APAROKSHANUBHUTI
OR
SELF-REALIZATION
OF
SRI SANKARACHARYA
Text, with Word-for-word Translation, English
Rendering and Comments
By
SWAMI VIMUKTANANDA
ADVAITA A SHRAM A
5 Dehi Entally Road
Calcutta 14
Published by
Swami Budhananda
President, Advaita Ashrama
Mayavati, Pithoragarh, Himalayas
Printed in India
By G. C. Ray, Navana Printing Works Private Limited,
47 Ganesh Chunder Avenue, Calcutta 13.
PREFACE
Such treatises that aim at serving as intro-
ductions to a more advanced study of a system
of philosophy are generally known as ‘Praka-
rana Granthas’. Besides giving an outline of
the system, each of them emphasizes some one
or other of the main features. Aparokshanu -
bhuti is one such little manual, which, while
presenting a brief description of Vedanta, deals
specially with that aspect of it which relates to
the realization (Anubhuti) of the highest Truth.
Such realization, unlike the knowledge of
objects through sense-perception or inference,
is an immediate and direct perception of one’s
own Self, which is here indicated by the word
Aparoksha.
The central theme of the book is the identity
of the Jivatman (individual self) and Paramat-
man (Universal Self). This identity is realized
through the removal of the ignorance that
hides the truth, by the light of Vichara or
enquiry alone (verse 2). To enable the mind
to embark on such an investigation into truth,
certain disciplines are laid down, which are not
peculiar to Vedanta, but are indispensable for
all such enquiries into the highest Truth. The
( iv )
book then gives a description of one who has
attained this realization and of the nature of
his life. Then follows a discussion on Prarab-
dha, the momentum of past actions. The
author contends that after realization, when
ignorance with all its effects entirely disappears,
the question of the survival of the body for
working out Prsrabdha is altogether out of
place ; and the Shruti sometimes speaks of it
only to explain to the ignorant the apparent
behaviour of a man of realization, who, so far
as he himself is concerned, is ever immersed in
the Supreme Truth.
Verses 100 to 129 deal specially with the
fifteen stages through which the seeker after
Truth passes — which, by the way, are similar
to those experienced by a Raja-Yogin ; but the
two are entirely different. Then is the oneness
of cause and effect — the Absolute and the
manifested universe — which is wound up with
the culminating thought of the Vedanta philos-
ophy that all that is visible and invisible is in
reality the one eternal Atman, which is Pure
Consciousness (verse 141).
The authorship of the book is generally
attributed to Sri Sankaracharya. Even if this
be disputed, the teachings are undoutedly
Advaitic. To those, therefore, who have
neither the time nor the opportunity to go
through the classical works of Sankaracharya,
a treatise like the present one will be an invalu-
able guide in their quest after spiritual truth.
It may be mentioned here that verses 89 to
98 occur with slight variations also in the
Nadabindu Upanishad (221-29) and verses 102
to 136, 140 and 142, in the Tejabindu
Upanishad (15-51).
Translations of the book into English and
some Indian vernaculars have already been
published. But the need having been expressed
by some beginners for word-for-word equi-
valents and notes in English, a fresh attempt is
being made to meet these requirements. The
author acknowledges his indebtedness to the
existing translations as well as to the commen-
tary of Vidyaranya. It is hoped that the book
will be of use to those for whom it is intended.
SWAMI VlMUKTANANDA
Bklur Math,,
10th September, 1938.
CONTENTS
Subject Verse number
Invocation . . . . . . . . 1
Intboduction . . . . . . . . 2
Means to acquiring Sadhanachatushtaya (four
PRELIMINARY QUALIFICATIONS) . . . . 3
Vairacya (dispassion) . . . . . . 4
Viveka (discrimination) . . . . . . 5
Shama and Dama (internal and external re-
straint) . . . . . . . . 6
Uparati ( equipoise of the mind) and Titiksha
(forbearance) . . . . . . 7
Shraddha (faith) and Samadhana (concentra-
tion) . . . . . . . . 8
Mumukshuta (yearning for liberation) . . 9
The necessity of discrimination . . . . 10 — 11
The nature of discrimination . . . . 12 — 16
The nature of icnorance . . . . . . 17 — 21
The self-effulcent nature of the Atman . . 22
The identification of the body and the Atman
through ignorance . . . . . . 23
The nature of knowledge . . . . . . 24 — 28
Refutation of Sunyavada (nihilism) . . , . 29
Discrimination between the Atman and the
body . . . , . . . . 30 — 40
Futility of such discrimination except by
denying that the body is the Atman . . 41 — 42
Division in consciousness is inadmissible . . 43
Pure consciousness appears as tiie world
through ignorance . . . . . . 44
The world, having Brahman as its material
cause, is identical with It . . . . 45
The idea of the pervaded and the pervading
IS ILLUSORY .. .. .. 48
The refutation of -variety by the Shruti . . 47
Maya (nescience) is the cause of these varieites . . 48
All beings are Brahman . . .. . . 49
Brahman as the substratum of all names, forms,
ETC.
50
( viii )
Subject Verse number
Everything having emanated from Brahman has
THE NATURE OF BRAHMAN . . . . 51
The IDEA OF DIFFERENCE CAUSES FEAR . . . . 52
Ignorance, the cause of duality, disappears
THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE NON-DUAL
Atman . . . . . . . 53 — 54
Identifications of Jivatman and Paramatman
on the strength of the Sitruti . . . . 55
Falsity of the three states, waking, dream
AND SLEEP, AND THE REALITY OF CONSCIOUSNESS
THE WITNESS . . . . . . 50 — 58
Jivahood is superimposed on Brahman —
ILLUSTRATIONS . . . . . . 59 — 62
The Appearance of the Atman as the Universe —
Illustrations . . . . . . 63 — 64
Brahman as the subtratum of all actions . . 65
Brahman, the cause, is inseparable from the
world, Its effect . . . . . . 60 — 67
Atman appears to be pure to the wise and
impure to the ignorant . . . . 08
The division into the Self and non-Self is
futile . . . . . . . . 69.
The Atman appears as the body through
IGNORANCE — ILLUSTRATIONS . . . . 70 80
Adhyasa (supebimposition) and its disappearance
THROUGH KNOWLEDGE . . . . . . 87
The body, a non-entity, is not the Atman . . 88
Knowledge and Prarabdha (momentum of
past work) . . . . . . 89
Refutation of Prarabdha . . . . 90
Prarabdha cannot exist after the dawn of
KNOWLEDGE 91
What is Prarabdha . . . . . . 92
The body, being a superemposition, cannot have
REAL BTRTH . . . . . . 93
With the destruction of ignorance the world is
ALSO DESTROYED
The WORLD APPEARS THROUGH IGNORANCE
94
Subject
Verse number
When the substratum is known, the superimposed
(universe) disappears
Prarabdha is spoken of by the Shruti for the
IGNORANT
Text cited in Refutation of Prarabdiia
Prarabdha involves contradictions and goes
counter to Vedantic conclusions
Fifteen steps to the attainment of knowledge . .
Constant practice of the steps enjoined
The Enumeration of the steps
Yama (restraint of the senses)
Niyama (restraint of the mind)
Tyaga (renunciation)
Mauna (silence)
VlJANA-DESHA (A SOLITARY PLACE)
Kala (time)
Asana (posture)
Siddiiasana (A particular yogtc posture)
Mulabandha ('restraining root')
Dehasamya (equipoise of the limbs)
Drik-sthiti (fixing the vision)
Pranayama (control of the vital forces)
Rechaka (exhaling) and puraxa (inhalinc)
Kumbhaka (hoi-ding the breath)
Pratyaiiaua (withdrawal of the mind)
Dharana (concentration)
Diiyana (meditation)
Samadhi (absorption)
Practice of meditation till it has become one’s
second nature
The state of a man of perfection
Obstacles to meditation
Meditation on Brahman enjoined
Condemnation of tho$£ who give up the thought
of Brahman
Those who meditate on Brahman are alone
virtuous
Condemnation of vain Argumenators
• 96
97
98
09
100
101
102—103
104
105
100
107—109
110
111
112
113
114
115
110—117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127—128
129
130
131—132
132
Subject
Verse number
Mere ratiocination is of no avail .. 133
Constant thought of Brahman urged . . . . 134
The relation between the cause and the effect . . 135
When everything is denied reality remains at
the end . . . . . . . . 136
The means of attaining the consciousness of
Brahman . . . . . . . . 137
Discrimination between the cause and the effect 138 — 139
The efficacy of meditation . . . . . . 140
The meditation on the Atman . . . . 141
The felicity attainable by a man of knowledge . . 142
A beginner should practise this Raja-yoga along
with IIatha-yoga . . . . . . 143
Man of mature mind can realize the truth
THROUCH THIS RAJA-YOGA ALONE . . . . 144
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
OR
SELF-REALISATION
s*rnn$ gehitaFri sprcur si swtk^irii
I TOTFRU. Supreme Bliss the First Teacher
Ishwara (the Supreme Ruler) sinTO All-pervading gq-
of all Lokas (worlds) WH Cause a Him to
Sri Hari qinfif bow down.
1. I 1 bow down to Him— to Sri Hari (the
destroyer of ignorance), the Supreme Bliss, the
First Teacher, Ishwara, the All-pervading One
and the Cause 2 of all Lokas (the universe).
1 /—The ego, the Jiva in bondage, who identifies himself with the
gross, subtle and causal bodies, undergoes various sufferings and
s trives for liberation.
* The Cause — The efficient as well as the material cause. Just as a
spider weaves its net from the materials of its own body, so does
Ishwara create this universe out of Himself.
SFRJta EffavfrqT IR11
jfrgfaraft For the acquisition of final liberation (from
the bondage of ignorance) q (expletive) (the
means of attaining to) Self-realization (emrrftf: by us)
i foqft is spoken of in detail by the pure in heart q*
2
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
only this) with all effort ggR§: again and again
should be meditated upon.
2. Herein is expounded (the means of
attaining to) Aparokshanubhuti 1 (Self-realiza-
tion) for the acquisition of final liberation. Only
the pure in heart should constantly and with all
effort meditate upon the truth herein taught.
1 Aparokshanubhuti — It is the direct cognition of the Atman which
is always present in all thought.
Everybody has some knowledge of this Atman or Self, for, to
deny the Self is to deny one's own existence. But at first its real
nature is not known. Later on, when the mind becomes purer
through Upasana and Tapas, the veil of ignorance is gradually
withdrawn and the Self begins to reveal its real nature. A higher
knowledge follows at an advanced stage, when the knowledge of the
‘Self as mere witness’ is seen as absorbing all other thoughts.
But the end is not yet reached. The idea of duality, such as ‘I am
the witness’ (T and the ‘witness'), is still persisting. It is only at the
last stage when the knower and the known merge in the Self-effulgent
Atman, which alone ever is, and besides which nothing else exists,
that the culmination is reached. This realization of the non-dual is
the consummation of Aparokshanubhuti.
It is needless to say that Aparokshanubhuti may here mean also
the work that deals with it.
By the performance of duties pertaining
to one’s social order and stage in life gqgi by austerity
SftsflWRL by propitiating Hari (the Lord) of men
Vairagya (dispassion) and the like the four-
fold OTR means (to knowledge) sunlit, arises.
SELF-REALIZATION
3
3. The four preliminary qualifications 1 (the
means to the attainment of knowledge), such as
Vairagya (dispassion) and the like, are acquired
by men by propitiating Hari (the Lord), through
austerities and the performance of duties per-
taining to their social order and stage in life.
1 The four preliminary qualifications — These are efcTttT
dispassion, discrimination, six treas-
ures such as Shama (the control of the mind) and the
like, and yearning for liberation (from the bondage
of ignorance).
wr ?rfg fSnfeq \m
qm Just as $T€fa E 5T?TT to the excreta of a crow tout
indifference (cm in the same way) fiwftg to
all objects of enjoyment from Brahmaloka to this world
erg (agftfPT) considering (their perishable nature) ( qfl()
TORT indifference cHf that verily pure (TORT
indifference).
4. The indifference with which one treats
the excreta of a crow— such an indifference to
all objects of enjoyment from the realm of
Brahma to this world (in view of their perish-
able nature), is verily called pure Vairagya. 1
1 Pure Vairzgy a— Ont may be indifferent to the enjoyments of this
world only in expectation of better enjoyments in the next This kind
of indifference is tainted with desires which bar the door to
Knowledge. But the indifference that results from a due deliberation
on the evanescent nature of this world as well as the world to come,
is alone pure, and productive of the highest good.
4
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
zw srfijrcfcPHjL I
ft ftSRJ SWtfc&s) m&H Q $ INI
SIRJT^'T Atman in itself ft[ verily fac4 permanent
the seen going against that (ie. opposed to
Atman) tr^ thus jj: which settled conviction
that t truly 3 ^ 33 : of thing fo[^B: discrimination ($?: is
known).
5. Atman 1 (the seer) • in itself is alone
permanent, the seen 2 is opposed to it (i.e. tran-
sient) — such a settled conviction is truly known
as discrimination.
'Atman — In this ever-changing world there is one changeless being
as witness of these changes. This permanent ever-seeing being is
Atman.
*The seen — This comprircs everything other than Atman, such as
objects of the senses, the senses, the mind and the Buddhi.
toricvto 5[mto!rfaf?T i
snsrtrfat 5Fif*rsfcra ii^ii
At all times gnwicJinT: abandonment of desires
this 5iq as Shama (control of the mind) $|f«33: is
termed WSH^Nt of the external functions of the organs
ftm: restraint ffa as Dama aifwfrRt is called.
6. Abandonment of desires at 1 all times is
called Shama and restraint of the external
functions of the organs is called Dama.
1 Abandonment of desires — Previous impressions that are lying
dormant in the mind as well as the contact of the mind with the
external objects give rise to desires. To abandon all desires is to
dissociate the mind from these two sets of stimuli.
SELF-REALIZATION
5
«%tsnsrt ftf^iT ht *twt m\ .
fqqi)Wp From objects (of the senses) (<qr which) TOfffl:
turning away ?n that fi[ verily qr*TT the highest aqrfrP
Uparati of all sorrow or pain (qg. which) g|«i
endurance gf that gift conducive to happiness frfhOT
forbearance qgi is known.
7. Turning away completely from afl sense-
objects is the height of Uparati, 1 and patient
endurance of all sorrow or pain is known as
Titiksha which is conducive to happiness.
1 Uparati — Apparently Uparati differs very little from Shama and
Dama, yet there is a difference. While practising Sama and Dama
there is an effort to restrain the mind’s outgoing propensities. But in
Uparati the equipoise of the mind becomes spontaneous and there is
no further striving to gain it.
srsfa %rtt i
3 O
WTTsrRfirfg n^iidii
faijJTHW«nq3lS In the words of the Vedas and the
teachers gfa; faith as Shraddhii fasptx is known g
and on the only object Sat fq&fiW concentration
of the mind gtnqi'lftTfg as SanudhSna (deep concentra-
tion) is regarded.
8. Implicit faith in the words of the Vedas
and the teachers (who interpret them) is known
as Shraddha, and concentration of the mind on
the only object Sat (i.e. Brahman) is regarded
as Samadhana.
6
APAROKSHANUBHUn
SjHTCSfafjRfo: S TO fMt |
nS
• # ^ §S5T gfs&ro m gg^T u\n
(|) O Lord when how Jf my OTRWW^f®
the final liberation from the bonds of the world (i.e. births
and deaths) ^n^will be 5% an such strong ffij: desire
QT that ggg^TT Mumukshuta (yearning for final liberation)
TOtcqi should be called.
9. When and how shall I, O Lord, be free
from the bonds of this world (i.e. births and
deaths)— such a burning desire is called Mumu-
kshuta. 1
1 Mumukshutn— This is the fourth Sadhana. With this the student
becomes fit to make an enquiry into the highest Truth, i.e. Brahman.
[It is now an accepted principle even in the scientific world that a
student in search of knowledge should free himself from all his
predispositions and keep an unbiased mind ready to receive whatever
is true. The four Sadhanas here inculcated are nothing but a course
of discipline to attain to such a state of mind.]
Hgagmg&r fsRR: ^ 1
In possession of the said qualifications
(as means to Knowledge) ancOT: of one’s own gpr ft f xgfl l
desiring good g^or by a person ffc only with a
view to attaining Knowledge firem constant reflection
should be practised.
10. Only that person who is in possession
of the said qualifications (as means to Know-
ledge should constantly reflect 1 with a view to
attaining Knowledge, desiring his own good. 2
SELF-REALIZATION
7
1 Should constantly reflect — After a person has attained tranquillity
of the mind through Sadhanas, he should strive hard to maintain the
same by constantly reflecting on the evanescent nature of this wbrld
and withal dwelling on the highest Truth till he becomes one with It.
2 Good —' The highest good* i.e. liberation from the bondage of
ignorance.
f%sn Without an enquiry (into the Truth)
epzrUTCR: by other means Knowledge 3 not 3?ra!l is
produced qqT% just as anywhere knowledge
of objects fofT without light (if 3(33% is not
produced).
11. Knowledge is not brought about by any
other means' than Vichiira, just as an object is
nowhere perceived (seen) without the help of
light.
1 By any other means — By Karma, Upasanii, and the like. It is
ignorance or Avidya which has withheld the light of Knowledge from
us. To get at Knowledge, therefore, we have to remove this Avidya.
But so long as we are engaged in Karma or Upasanii, we remain
under its sway. It is only when we make an enquiry into the real
nature of this Avidya that it gradually withdraws and at last vanishes,
then alone Knowledge shines.
qumr? sir qft 3 srIsr fesm i
fqRH:: starotesi: u^ii
( erf^ar ) Who lam? this (world) how
Wfd created who *f (expletive) aRT of this nrf the
creator is fg here (in this creation) 31W3 material
what eifef is ntsq ten*: that Vichara (enquiry) $TO:
like this OfPffrf is).
2
8
APAROKSHaNUBHUTI
12. Who am I ?' How is this (world)
created ? Who is its creator ? Of what material
is this (world) made ? This is the way of that
Vichara 2 (enquiry).
1 Who am I ?— We know that we are , but do not know what our
real nature is. In the waking state we think that we are the body, the
physical being, and consequently fee) ourselves strong or weak, young
or old. At another time, in the dream state, regardless of the physical
existence we remain only in a mental state, where we are merely
thinking beings and feel only the misery or happiness that our
thoughts create for us. Again, m deep sleep, we enter into a state
where we cannot find the least trace of any such attribute whereby we
can either assert or deny our existence.
We pass through these states almost daily and yet do not know
which of them conforms to our real nature. So the question, ‘Who
am I V is always with us an unsolved riddle. It is, therefore, neces-
sary to investigate into it.
*This is the way of that Vichara — It is said in the preceding Shloka
that Knowledge is attainable by no other means but Vichara or an
enquiry into the Truth. Herein is inculcated in detail the method of
such an enquiry.
qflfssRrwn ii^ii
I combination of the elements the
(gross) body 9 not (ajffcr am) n*n ? so also 1 h not
BntUTW (an aggregate of) the senses (i.e. the subtle body)
( atfot am ; er? I ) different from these
something ( etflpi am ) etc.
13. Iam neither the body, 1 a combination
of the (five) elements (of matter), nor am I an
aggregate of the senses; 1 am something [different
from these. This is the way of that Vichara.
SELF-REALIZATION
9
l I am neither the body— This body has its origin in insentient
matter and as such it is devoid of consciousness. If I be the boc(y> I
should be unconscious ; but by no means am I so. Therefore I cannot
be the body.
arURSRri UTffcr srfNta?* i
fafqvr: ^ f^c: etawftOT: uudi
Everything produced by ignorance ( aiftsf
is through Knowledge ( that ) complety
disappears fafqq: various thought creator
is)tfrsqq.< etc.
14. Everything is produced by ignorance, 1
and dissolves in the wake of Knowledge. The
various thoughts (modifications of Antahkarana)
must be the creator. 2 Such is this Vichsra.
x Everything is produced by ignorance — In reply to the question in
Shloka 12 as the cause of this world it is here said that ignorance is
the cause of everything.
Sometimes, seeing something coiled up on the road, we mistake it
for a snake and shrink back out of fear. But afterwards when we
discover that it is nothing but a piece of rope, the question arises in the
mind as to the cause of the appearance of the snake. On enquiry we
find that the cause of it lies nowhere else than in our ignorance of the
true nature of the rope. So also the cause of the phenomenal world
that we see before us lies in the ignorance or Maya that covers the
reality.
a The various thoughts... the creator — The only thing that we are
directly aware of is our own thoughts- The world that we see
before us is what our thoughts have created for us. This is
clearly understood when we analyse our experiences in dreams. There
the so-called material world is altogether absent, and yet the thoughts
alone create a world which is as material as the world now before us.
It is, therefore, held that the whole universe is in the same way, but
a creation of our thoughts.
10
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
‘ *rt «WiCvai<ta t atevAcu: IIVaII
tpfo Just as qauftsrf of the pot and the like ( gqi^R
material) earth ( flqfh is, so also ) t^pfT: of these
two ^ which gqt^lJf material ( ^ that ) t^B one qgjf
subtle stojfjf unchanging 33. Sat ( Existence ) ( e?f)s is )
, etc.
15. The material (cause) of these two
(i.e. ignorance and thought) is the One 1 (without
a second), subtle (not apprehended by the senses)
and unchanging Sat (Existence), just as the
earth is the material (cause) of the pot and the
like. This is the way of that Vichara.
1 One— Because it does not admit of a second of the same or of
a different kind, or of any parts within itself. It is one homo-
geneous whole.
wpf \\\%\\
( 3 CTRI.' Because ) I atfq also *r$: one the
subtle q (expletive) jrar the Knower the Witness 3^
the Existent atapp the Unchanging ( erftq am, erenq there-
fore) I “That” ( 8tffcr am ) anr here 31^5: doubt
3 not (. etfta is ) atsim. , etc.
16. As I am also the One, the Subtle, the
Knower, 1 the Witness, the Ever-Existent, and the
Unchanging, so there is no doubt that I am
“That” 2 (i.e. Brahman). Such is this enquiry.
SELF-REALIZATION
11
'The Knower— The supreme Knower who is $ver present in
all our perceptions as consciousness, and who perceives even
the ego.
When I say, “I know that I exist,” the “I” of the clause “that I
exist” forms a part of the predicate and as such it cannot be the same
“I” which is the subject. This predicative “I” is the ego, the object.
The subjective “I” is the supreme Knower.
*Iam “That”— l, the ego, when stripped of all its limiting ad-
juncts, such as the body and the like, becomes one with “That,”
the supreme Ego, i.e. Brahman. In fact, it is always Brahman ; Its
limitation being but the creation of ignorance.
STTrJTT |Nt I
srayjffer ftus pnw : q^u^ll
aflcfTT Atman f| verily qq>: one without parts
( etftct is ) 'tv the body Jfgfa: by many (parts) snfg:
covered ( is, jpr: the ignorant) epfp of these two
identity sjqsrfai see (confound) else than this
what sifFTqt ignorance ( sifet is ).
17. Atman is verily one and without parts,
whereas the body consists of many parts ; and
yet the people see (confound) these two as one !
What else can be called ignorance but this ?'
1 What else can be called ignorance but this ? — To give rise to con-
fusion in knowledge is a unique characteristic of ignorance. It is
through the influence of ignorance that one confounds a rope with a
snake, a mother-of-pearl with a piece of silver and so on. But, after
all, the power of ignorance is not completely manifest there ; for one
could easily find an excuse for such confusions when there exist some
common characteristics* between the real and the apparent. The
nature of ignorance is, however, fully revealed when one confounds
the subject (i.e. Atman) with the object (i.e. the body), which have
nothing in common between them, being opposed to each other in
all respects.
12
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
STTcJTT |
sm^rfor ftsHSliWrf: TOJJHqi
STTUTT Atman ftauia;: the ruler SRP internal *a and
< *tafn is ) the body ftanre: the ruled aim: external
( Hafir is ) aattaa, etc.
18. Atman is the ruler of the body and is
internal, the body is the ruled and is external ;
and yet, etc.
3TR1TT pwr: gwft ^ mtenretegfe: l
SPTCHffrT f^WFWRi: q^q il^ll
STRUT Atman tyHTia: all consciousness goa: holy ( train
is ) the body afaaa: all flesh srgfa: impure ( Hafir
is ) cRfrta^f, etc.
19. Atman is all consciousness and holy,
the body is all flesh and impure ; and yet, etc.
3TRHT 3^ l
STTRlfer f%HStTHHrT: T^lRo|l
STRRT Atman SftianK: the Illuminator 135$: pure %f:
the body an?H: of the nature of darkness gaq% .is said
nalW, etc.
20. Atman is the (supreme) Illuminator
and purity itself; the body is said to be of the
nature of darkness ; and yet, etc.
3TTc«TT fHP?t f$ \
f+TRIHTm:
SELF-REALIZATION
13
STICT! Atman eternal since Existence
itself the body etf^rr: transient ffc because SRFIPP
non-existence in essence etc.
21. Atman is eternal, since it is Existence
itself : the body is transient, as it is non-existence
in essence and yet, etc.
'The body is... non-existence in essence — The body is undergoing
change at every moment, and as such, cannot be eternal. But grant-
ing that is non-eternal, how can it be non-existent ?— for, so long as it
lasts we surely see it as existing.
At first sight the body appears to be existing, however temporary
its existence may be. A relative existence (Vyavaharika Satta) is,
therefore ascribed to it. But when one examines it and tries to find
out its real nature, this so-called tangible body gradually becomes
attenuated and at last disappears altogether. It is, therefore, said here
that the body, as such, is always non-existent, even though it may
appear as existing for a time to those who do not care to see it through.
^ ftfv irrii
Which manifestation of all objects RR,
that siWTR: of Atman gCTORT illumination «f not sirenf^
^tfH3R.l'ke the light of lire and the rest ( anRpr: of Atman
light ( is ) tfR: for faffr at night enwjf darkness
exists.
22. The luminosity of Atman consists in
the manifestation of all objects. Its luminosity
is not' like that <>f fire or any such thing, for
(in spite of the presence of such lights) darkness
prevails at night (at some place or other).
'Its luminosity is not, etc .— The light of Atman is unlike any other
light. Ordinary lights are opposed to darkness and are limited in their
14
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
capacity to illumine things. It is a common experience that where
there is darkness there is no light ; and darkness always prevails at
some place or other, thus limiting the power of illumination of such
lights. Even the light of the sun is unable to dispel darkness at some
places. But the light of Atman is ever present at all places. It illu-
mines everything and is opposed to nothing, not even to darkness ;
for it is in and through the light of Atman, which is present in every-
body as consciousness, that one comprehends darkness as well as
light and all other things.
n»sii
3 ? Alas Jjcj: ignorant person like a person
seeing a pot qirorfhfb that this is mine nqtn ever $Rqr
knowing atfa even I apt this : body that ^it
holding (the view) fhgfh rests (contented).
23. How strange is it that a person igno-
rantly rests contented with the idea that he is
the body, 1 while he knows it as something
belonging to him (and therefore apart from
him) even as a person who sees a pot (knows it
as apart from him) !
1 The idea that he is the body — This is the view of Lokayatikas
(Indian materialists) who maintain that man is no more than a for-
tuitous concourse of material elements. According to them the five
elements of matter through permutations and combinations, have
given birth to this body as well as to life and consciousness, and with
death everything will dissolve into matter again.
|RW|
8T5 I HU Brahman verily ( etfaf am JRT: because
I ) WP equanimous $TRP quiescent fifikKN’qSNgq: by
SELF-REALIZATION
15
nature absolute Existence, Knowledge, and Bliss am)
I 8t3g<i: non-existence itself the body «t ffc never
(sifor am) gfcl this gsp by the wise (true) Knowledge
is called.
24. I am verily Brahman, 1 being equanim-
ous, quiescent, and by nature absolute Exis-
tence, Knowledge, and Bliss. I am not the
body 1 which is non-existence itself. This is
called true Knowledge by the wise.
X I am verily Brahman — "I,” the Self or Atman, is Brahman as
there is not even a single characteristic differentiating the two. In
other words there are no two entities as Atman and Brahman ; it is
the same entity Atman that is sometimes called Brahman.
When a person makes an enquiry into the real nature of this ex-
ternal world he is led to one ultimate reality which he calls Brahman.
But an enquiry into the nature of the enquirer himself reveals the
fact that there is nothing but the Atman, the Self, wherefrom the so-
called external world has emanated. Thus he realizes that what he
has so long called Brahman, the substratum of the universe, is but
his own Self, it is he himself. So it is said : “All this is verily
Brahman, this Atman is Brahman” ( Mand . Up. 2 ).
3 / am not the body — I am neither the gross, nor the subtle, nor
the causal body.
sit I fafwv without any change fond*: without any
form fawj: free from all blemishes spot: undecaying
( arfar am ) erp* , etc.
25. I am without any change, without any
form, free from all blemish and decay. I am
not, etc.
16
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
Pkr^i fjRmwV
STIf ^ IRTfft (Rffeg'INi $h|W»||
«|f I tewq: not subject to any disease f«KWra: beyond
all comprehension ftfawT! free from ail alteration antKf;
all-pervading .( sjf^cr am ) effn , etc.
26. I am not subject to any disease, I am
beyond all comprehension, 1 free from all alter-
natives and all-pervading. I am not, etc.
'I am beyond all comprehension— l am not comprehended by any
thought, for in the supreme Atman no thought, the thought of the
subject and the object, the knower and the known, not -even the
thought of the Self and the not-Self, is possible, as all thought
implies duality whereas the Atman is non-dual.
foWl far*?l i
m t HUrfiTcf^ ll^ll
at? I ftiw without any attribute ftft^Jf: without any
activity ft®: eternal ever free araja: imperishable
(8Tft*ramj0t?^,etc.
27. I am without any attribute or activity,
I am eternal, ever free, and imperishable. I am
not, etc.
^ ^ 3$: n^qi
9tfj I free from all impurity immovable
a(iRi: unlimited 33: holy bbp undecaying sur: immortal
«HH,etc.
SELF-REALIZATION
17
28. I am free from all impurity, I am
immovable, unlimited, holy, undecaying, and
immortal. I am not, etc.
^
1% ^ ir*ii
*ft O you ignorant one ( epjf&d residing)
in your own body ^iTcfhr beyond the body blissful
3^4 known as Purusha %r (expletive) grratj established
(by the Shruti as identical with Brahman) rjr ever-existent
etTcRH Atman ft why w)fq assert as absolutely
non-existent ?
29. O you ignorant one ! Why do you
assert the blissful, ever-existent Atman, which
resides in your own body and is (evidiently)
different from it, which is known as Purusha
and is established (by the Shruti as identical
with Brahman), to be absolutely non-existent ?'
1 Why do you assert ---absolutely non-existent ?— In the preceding
stanzas when all the attributes that the human mind can conceive of
have been denied of Atman, one is naturally assailed by the doubt
whether such an Atman at all exists. To remove this doubt it is here
said that Atman is a fact of everybody’s experience and as such, its
existence cannot be challenged ; therefore there is no reason to call it
Shunya or absolute non-existence.
^Tc*TR JJJ3 *4 «TSTT JpRSfT ^ l
*1*^: II3°II
( »it: ) Jjjif O you ignorant one you your own
Self «c3T with the help of Shruti by reasoning ^ also
18
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
<JW Purusha beyond the body the very form
of existence (fasg but) flro: by persons like you gg^r
very difficult to be seen ) realize.
30. O you ignorant one ! Try to know, with
the help of Shruti 1 and reasoning, your own
Self, Purusha, which is different from the body,
(not a void but) the very form of existence, and
very difficult for persons like you to realise.
1 With the help of Shruti — With the help of such Shruti text as
“Subtler than this Atman (i.e the body) which is full of flesh and
blood, there is another Atman” ( Taitt . Up. 11.2). It is thus clearly
stated that the Atman which is sometimes mistaken for the body is,
in fact, quite different from it.
3 Persons like you— Persons of your cast of mind who, on account
of their great attachment to the body, overlook the vital differences
which exist between the body and the Atman and blindly assert their
identity.
Beyond the body ( g^ej: Purusha) 0^51^1 by the
word T known tr* tf* as only one ffcRp existing
(erffcs is) the gross (body) g on the other hand
manifoldness stth: obtained (f^T so) the body w
g*TF^ Purusha ^n<l.can be ?
31. The Supreme (Purusha) known as “I”
(ego) is but one, whereas the gross bodies are
many. So how can this body be Purusha ?
^ twn fwn i
wrafaft gJTR nytii
SELF-REALIZATION
19
3 ??' I JTScRT as the subject of perception £15: estab-
lished ( Btftsr am ) the body as the object of
perception fetfp exists this tni (is) mine fih
on account of this description etc.
32. “I” (ego) is well established as the
subject of perception whereas the body is the
object. This is learnt from the fact that when
we speak of the body we say, “This is mine.” 1
So how can this body be Purusha ?
1 This is mine — That is, the body is something which I possess, and
therefore external to me. So there is not the least chance of its being
identified with me (i.e. Atman).
?frr srfm ^
I without any change (arffcr am) ^5: the
body g but ever undergoing changes this
RTSTRI. directly slcftaRt is perceived etc.
33^ It is a fact of direct experience that the
“I” (Atman) is without any change,* whereas
the body is always undergoing changes. So
how can this body be Purusha ?
1 The “l” (Atman) is without any change — In happiness or misery,
in childhood, youth, or old age, Atman, in spite of many changes in
the body, remains the same ; else how do we recognize a person to be
the same man again and again even though his body and mind have
undergone a thorough change ?
*31T ?RT awnwn i
20
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
aWJRl., h) By the wise
“(There is nothing) higher than He" etc. this ?PJT
WfijTby that Shruti text the nature of tire Purusha
is ascertained ^55:, etc.
34. Wise men have ascertained the (real)
nature of Purusha from that Shruti text, 1
“(There is nothing) higher than He (Purusha),”
etc. So how can this body be Purusha ?
'From that Shruti text— The text occurs in the Sveta svatara Upa*
nishad (III, 9) as follows :
“There is nothing higher, subtler or greater than this Purusha,
who stands in the luminous sphere supremely unique and immovable
like a tree, and by whom all this (creation) is filled.”
vr : sren 13*11
JRJ: Because by the Shruti g$rcfffRt in the pithy
text known as the Purusha Sukta etfa also tr^ (f 4 )
SEW” “All this is verily the Purusha” 5% thus 35^ is
declared (UR: so) etc.
35. Again the Shruti has declared in the
Purusha Sukta’ that “All this is verily the
Purusha,” So how can this body be Purusha ?
1 The Purusha Sukta — It forms a part of the Rig-Veda. There we
find one of the highest conceptions or the Cosmic Being wherefrom
this universe has emanated. The text here referred to is this :
“The Purusha is verily all this (manifested world). He is all that
was in the past and that will be in the future. He is the Lord of the
Abode of Bliss and has taken this transient form of the manifested
universe, so that the Jivas may undergo the effects of their actions”
{Rig-Veda X.90.ii).
SELF-REALIZATION
21
araif: gw: M ^ i
wwwwifoai : yroui*$n
erfa i So also £43K<u& in the Brihadaranyaka Upa-
nishad jpq: Purusha ereip unattached is said ( 39 : so)
besmeared with innumerable impurities
etc.
36. So also it is said in Brihadaranyaka
that “The Purusha is completely unattached.” 1
How can this body wherein inhere innumerable
impurities be the Purusha ?
x The Purusha is completely unattached— This reference is to the
following passages, “The Purusha is not accompanied in the waking
state by what he sees in dream, for he is completely unattached."
(Brih. Up . IV. iii. 15-16).
^ WTRRTS: I
TOraratfistf g*n*ui$vj»n
rraw ^ There again <j$q: the Purusha ^rstflfa: self-
illumined (expletive) wnWTU: is clearly stated (aat so)
enf this inert «TOPBT^r: illumined by an external agent
etc.
37. There again 1 it is clearly stated that
“the Purusha is self-illumined.” So how can
the body which is inert (insentient) and illumined
by an external agent be the Purusha ?
1 There again— In the same Brihadaranyaka we have : ‘‘Here (in
dream) the Purusha is self-illumined” (Brih. Up. IV.iii.77),
5?FRhsfT wb&pjtst UT5RT ^if g g^Pi: |
frWS rlrljfi# ^HMKHrdiHLII^qi
22
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
ffc Since by the Karma-kanda sift also antUT
Atman from the body different f«Rq: perma-
nent * and sfUR: is declared ( jrj: as ) after
the fall of the body the results of actions ge'G
undergoes.
38. Moreover, the Karma-kanda also de-
clares 1 that the Atman is different from the
body and permanent, as it endures even after
the fall of the body and reaps the fruits of
actions (done in this life).
x Moreover t the Karma-kanda declares The Karma-kanda is that
portion of the Veda which inculcates the performance of religious
acts, sacrifices and ceremonies, laying down in detail rules and regu-
lations for the guidance of its votaries. The followers of the Karma-
kanda do not believe in an Ishvara or God. Nevertheless they believe
in permanent individual soul which is quite different from the body
and which survives the destruction of the latter as a support of Apurva
(the abiding result of Karma).
So not only the Jnana-kanda (the Upanishads) but also the
Karma-kanda asserts that Atman in different from the body.
f$>T toft ^ i
^ pm*
The subtle body ^ even consisting of
many parts unstable an object of perception frorft
changeable =? and sjetn'W&H limited sreg? non-existent by
nature 33 so how apf this (subtle body) {pn^Purusha
wra can be ?
39. Even the subtle body' consists of
many parts and is unstable. It is also an object
of perception, is changeable, limited and non-
existent by nature. So how can this be the
Purusha ?
SELF-REALIZATION
2 $
'The subtle body , etc — It consists of seventeen parts, viz the
intellect, mind, five organs of perception, five organs of action, and
five vital forces (or five subtle elements).
3^ far. i
- srafon wWfciteyMw : n %o u
Thus anOTT Atman from these two bodies
s|5*l: different B? 5 ^(the substratum of) “I” (the ego) etsqzfr
immutable pqs Purusha Ishvara OTfwT the Self of all
having all forms =«r and transcending
everything.
40. The immutable Atman, the substra-
tum of the ego, is thus different from these two
bodies, and is the Purusha, the Ishvara (the
Lord of all), the Self of all ; It is present in
every form and yet transcends them all.
rTrn f% 3¥TT5T?JT II W II
Thus 3TR(f^S*TFta by (enunciating) the difference
between the Atman and the body indeed the
reality of the phenomenal world tj*n as ct^TT^’n by Tarka-
shastra is said, (cWT in the same way 3^RT is ascertain-
ed). cRt: so ft 3OTPWT ( faff'd) what end of human life is.
served ?
41. Thus the enunciation of the difference
between the Atman and the body has (in-
directly) asserted, indeed, after the manner of
the Tarkashastra, 1 the reality of the phenomenal
world. But what end of human life is served 2
thereby r
1 Tarkashastra — The science of logic (Nyaya), or treatises like San-
khya and Yoga and those of the Lokayatikas which mostly follow the
3
24
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
method of inference in arriving at their respective conclusions. Here
it specially refers to Sankhya which with the mere help of Tarka (logic)
tries to establish the final duality of Prakriti and Purusha and in whicn
Prakrit i or the material principle that constitutes the phenomenal world
is eternal and co-existent with Purusha, the conscious principle.
a What end of human life is served —' There are generally four ends of
human life, viz Dharma or performance of duty, Artha or attainment
of worldly prosperity, Kama or satisfaction of desires, and Moksha or
final liberation from the bondage of ignorance, of which the first three
are but secondary, as they are only helps to the last which is the
ummum bonum. But this last one, the liberation from the bondage of
ignorance, will never be attained unless a person realizes non-duality
and becomes one with it, and thus removes even the last vestige of
duality from the mind. But the establishment of duality is only an
obstacle to such realization and drives persons away from the path of
liberation. It, therefore, serves no real purpose in human life.
[But the object of showing the difference between Atman and the
body is not to prove the reality of the body and thus establish the
duality of Atman and the body, but only to meet the opponents who
hold the view that this body is Atman. It will be shown in the follow-
ing stanzas that there is no such thing as body, it is Atman that alone
exists.]
PWTfciqLI
II ii
Thus by (the enunciation of) the
difference between the Atman and the body%fTctR^ the
view that the body is the Atman ■ffarfaTH, denied now
the difference between the body and the Atman f?
(expletive) wrw unreality clearly is stated.
42. Thus the view that the body is the
Atman has been denounced by the enunciation
of the difference between the Atman and the
body. Now is clearly stated the unreality of
the difference 1 between the two.
SELF-REALIZATION
23
l The unreality of the difference , ere.— That, the body has no
existence independent of the Atman just as the waves do not exist
independently of water. In fact, the Atman alone exists, and it is
through ignorance that one sees it as appearing in the forms of the
body and the like. <
^ ?PH II II
Of Consciousness on account of
uniformity at any time jfcs division •) not g^R:
admissible (*wfh is) ; jpqT just as ^ in the rope
perception of a snake (tgqr false, ?pn so) the in-
dividuality of the Jiva ^ also Jjrqi false must be known.
43. No division in Consciousness is admis-
sible at any time as it is always one and the
same*. Even the individuality of the Jiva must
be known as false, like the delusion of a snake
in a rope.
1 It is always one and the same — The contents of consciousness may
vary, but consciousness as such remains always uniform, just as the
light of the sun remains the same while illuminating various objects.
sn^rrfs^T^r him ii yy u
Just as rssrfWTtt. through the ignorance of the
rope ^33jf| the very rope in an instant qfttift a
(female) snake *nftf appears in the same way
pure Consciousness msira. without undergoing any
change in the form of the phenomenal universe
(*nfa appears).
44. As through the ignorance of the real
nature of the rope the very rope appears in an
26
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
instant as a snake, so also does pure Conscious-
ness appear in the form of the phenomenal
universe without undergoing any change. 1
1 Without undergoing any change — When a rope appears as a snake
nobody can say that any change has been wrought upon the rope.
Similarly, pure Consciousness appears as the so-called material
universe without undergoing any change whatsoever.
^rm. swretai flshnfa it tfV. II
sqtrer of the phenomenal universe ggjuj: other
than Brahman material (cause) is fWTPT.
therefore 3pf this entire phenomenal universe 393
Brahman alone atfe is «t w not anything else.
45. There exists no other material cause of
this phenomenal universe except Brahman.
Hence this whole universe is but Brahman 1 and
nothing else.
1 This whole universe is but Brahman — because the effect is never
different from the cause ; a pot is never different from the earth of
which it is made. The names and forms that differentiate the effect
from the cause are but conventional and are found non-existent when
their nature is enquired into.
Wrt W’ II ^ II
Everything sncRT Atman STTCRIH. from such
declaration (of the Shruti) STPajarmRT the idea of the
pervaded and the pervading fhvin false (»Tf% is) this
the supreme truth 51% (ufa) being realized 55:
where of distinction eprcm room (efftj is).
SELF-REALIZATION
27
46. From such declaration' (of the Shruti)
as “All this is Atman,” it follows that the idea
of the pervaded and the pervading is illusory.
This supreme truth being realized, where is the
room for any distinction between the cause
and the effect ?
1 From such declaration — It refers to the passage : “These Brahmins
and Kshatriyas, these Lokas (regions), gods, Vedas and beings* in
short, everything is this Atman” (Brih. Up . IV.v.7.).
sreiT fNifcr ^ % |
^ *rrci“f u il
Certainly ffc directly wgn by the Shruti •rraTc'T
manifoldness is denied non-dual cause
(ufh) remaining established ?*r how *n??: appearance
apsT: another should be ?
47. Certainly the Shruti has directly' denied
manifoldness in Brahman. The non-dual cause
being an established fact, 2 how could the phe-
nomenal universe be different from It ?
x The Shruti has directly , etc.— The Shruti passage runs as follows :
“After hearing from a competent teacher one should realize with the
help of a pure mind that there is no manifoldness in this (Brahman).”
(Brih. Up. lV.iv.19).
Q The non-dual cause being an established fact , etc. — The positing of
the non-dual Brahman as the final reality by the Shruti cuts at the
root of all causality ; for a cause always presupposes an effect which it
produces and which is evidently differnt from it in some respect or
other. But when there is only one, how is it possible for a second
thing, an effect to come into existence? The truth is that the non-dual
Brahman or Atman never causes anything. It is through ignorance
that one sees this world and thinks of Brahman as its cause.
28
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
^sfq « ’Tsg^T |
w STFTTcSf tTTC^lT sr: || «c II
(*ft) i r: The person JmtTT by Maya (illusion) qfeRf: (OR)
being deceived in this ^RT^f variety qjprfij sees g: he
qjjfts from death JJR to death goes thus) htrt
by the Shruti f|q; blame atfq as well is pronounced.
48. Moreover, the Shruti has condemned
(the belief in variety) in the words, “The per-
son who,” being deceived by Maya, “sees
variety in this (Brahman), goes from death to
death”. 1
'Goes from death to deat h— i.e. is bom and dies again and again.
The reference is to such Shruti texts as : “He who sees variety in this
(i.e. Brahman), passes from death to death.” (Brih. Up- IV.iv 19). In
other words, unless a person realizes the non-dual Atman which is
evidently without birth and death, there is no escape for him from
the cycle of re-births.
flfPi: tS&JjTTft 5TT^ WTIW: I
sight ii v^ ii
(zrt: As) Sfgw: from Brahman qnTTRR: from the supreme
Atman all beings are born therefore
TRTft they Rg Brahman q? verily ypifccf are 5% this
apRidta. (one) should clearly understand.
49. Inasmuch as all_ beings are bom of
Brahman, 1 the supreme Atman, they must be
understood to be verily Brahman.
1 All beings are born of Brahman —' The reference here is to such
Shruti passages as : “That is Brahman wherefrom all these beings are
born,” etc. ( TaituUp . III.I).
SELF-REALIZATION
29
SWfajft ^nWTfor flwaffa || ||
an Brahman q* verily all names
various Stfifa forms a and wrsnftr all Baffin actions ejfr
also fk*rf?I sustains $fb this the Shruti has sung
(clearly declared).
50. The Shruti has clearly declared that
Brahman alone is the substratum 1 of all varie-
ties of names, forms, and actions.
1 Brahman alone is the substratum — Just as a rope is the substratum
of the illusion of a snake and the like, so Brahman is the substratum
of all names, forms, and actions though these are but illusory ; for
even an illusion requires a substratum for its appearance.
ssioft srraroraw ^ <t«?t «t^ui k* ii
(*WT As) gqvrfa. from gold SWIRTWI of (a thing) pro-
duced gy n a the nature of gold ? (expletive) sn^ci per-
manent erai ^ SO also 3SW from Brahman ntPHTH^T of
(a being) born the nature of Brahrnan
51. Just as a thing made of gold ever has
the nature of gold, so also a being born of
Brahman has always the nature of Brahman.
#rs% vrt riFnfwrftwirii n
if: Who i^sTc<TT the ignorant one between
the Jivatman and the Paramatman a little Btfc even
8RTi distinction f^T making nfhgftl rests 5WT his fear
( WrJfT by the Shruti) 0tf>OTTftRlH. 18 spoken of.
30
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
52. Fear 1 is attributed to the ignorant one
who rests 2 after making even the slightest dis-
tinction between the Jivatman and the Para-
matman.
1 Fear— Fear has its root in duality and imperfection and can be
overcome by him alone who realizes non-duality and thus attains to
perfection. For such a person there is none to be afraid of and
nothing to be gained or lost.
a Who rests , etc , — The Shruti text runs as follows : “When he (the
ignorant one) makes the slightest difference in It (Brahman) there is
fear for him.” ( Taitt . Up. II.7).
TOUR |
WQ SR* ifcRSM || V3 ||
When through ignorance |?f duality
appears gsr then 5^: one (5^ another) sees srt
when gq* all as Atman (s^is) then one ^
(expletive) aparPi even a bit si ( sees ).
53. When duality 1 appears through igno-
rance, one sees another ; but jvhen everything
becomes identified with the Atman, one does
not perceive another even in the least.
1 When duality , etc .— This stanza gives the substance of the
f ollowing passage from the Shruti : “For when there is duality, as it
were, one sees another, smells another etc., but when everything has
become one's own Self, how can one see another, smell another,”
etc .{Brih. Up. IV x A 5).
utrt&t fifenwr: |
? i aw r w u u
qfbpt. When suffer all beings (expletive)
«TI9T^IW as Atman of one who realizes 3CT ( tlfttR.)
then * not ^ (expletive) jfr?: delusion <t not s? also
SELF-REALIZATION
31
sorrow (*1^ arises) stfjftfcft: in consequence of the
absence of duality.
54. In that state' when one realizes all as
identified with the Atman, there arises neither
delusion nor sorrow, in consequence of the
absence of duality.
l 7/i that state, etc . — It refers to the following Shruti text : “When a
person realizes all beings to be his very Self, where is there any delu-
sion or sorrow for such a seer of unity ?’* (Isa. Up . 7).
anrorrJTT % ash? 4Mtan»?rai fwr. i
fwlfer SR*?T || ||
apf This as the Self of all ffcra: existing an<RT
Atman ffc (expletive) 3$ Brahman qq verily this Wc^T
by the Shruti fsqTirarawiT in the form of the Brihada-
ranyaka declared.
55. The Shruti 1 in the form of the Brihada-
ranyaka has declared that this Atman, which
is the Self of all, is verily Brahman.
1 The Shruti, etc,— The text is: “This Atman is Brahman.’* etc.
{Brih. Up. II.v.19)
sras’il w ii ^ u
apf This 55t?: world etgjp: experienced »tfa though
fit for all practical purposes eifq though unbeing
W as ^ra: dream (world) (ewr so) in conse-
quence of being contradicted in the next moment
of the nature of non-existence.
56. This world, 1 though an object of our
daily experience and serving all practical pur-
32
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
poses, is, like the dream world, of the nature
of non-existence, inasmuch as it is contradicted
the next moment.
1 This world , etc.— We cannot call a thing Sat (ever-existent)
merely because it is experienced and has some pragmatic value. In
dream we experience things which are valid so long as the dream
lasts. But as soon as we awake, they disappear as though they never
existed. So also the experiences of our waking state, which are so
full of meaning to us, are negated as soon as we enter into dream or
deep sleep. This world of waking experience, therefore, is also in
the same category of existence as the dream world.
*15?! 5t[TR5lS^: ■JTFpft «T % |
gqift ^ 5 tt% ^ n y« u
«rpRi>t In waking gjp dream apffc: unreal in dream
a»f*T also waking sr not ff[ surely (01% is) 5^ both
(i.e. waking and dream) tnf verily in deep sleep infer
do not exist aip deep sleep a?fq also fit verily in both
j» not ^ also (arferis).
57. The dream* (experience) is unreal in
waking, whereas the waking (experience) is
absent in dream. Both, however, are non-
existent in deep sleep which, again, is not ex-
perienced in either.
1 The dream, etc .— Here the author illustrates the preceding Shloka
by showing the unreality of the three states (Avasthatraya) on
account of their mutual contradiction.
5 st ipTTrfcrt 11 yen
gq y rftfaffrf Created by the three Gunas ?RH.the three
states qn thus fe^T unreal *nl^ are STPJ their (i.e. of the
SELF-REALIZATION
33
three states) g£T witness jprfifar: beyond all Gunas
eternal (expletive ) one fatnWV of the nature of
consciousness (erftft is).
58. Thus all the three states are unreal 1
inasmuch as they are the creation of the three
Gunas ; but their witness 2 (the reality behind
them) is, beyond all Gunas, eternal, one, and
is Consciousness itself.
1 The three states are unreal , etc.—' This world of our daily expe-
rience, comprising these three states is produced by the permutation
and combination of the three Gunas (components of Prakriti or the
primeval substance, viz Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas). But whatever
is a compound must disintegrate and be destroyed. This world
being a compound is thus foredoomed to destruction ; and so it is
unreal, as reality implies indestructibility. Here what has been put
forward as a mere proposition in Shloka 56 is conclusively proved,
viz that this world, though experienced is unreal.
• Their witness — When everything in this world is in a state of flux
and is changing every moment, what is it that sees these changes ?
The Vedanta declares that it is Atman, the conscious principle, that
witnesses all the changes, itself ever remaining unchanged and un-
effected by the Gunas that work these changes.
sfaRtfr * q^fn n ^ n
Just as in earth the illusion of a jar SfT
or in the nacre r*lflft*lftiq > the presence of silver (
one) sr not sees in the same way *ft$nn5)r when
realized goffer in Brahman Jivahood (3 does
not sep).
59. Just as (after the illusion has gone) one
is no more deluded to see a jar in earth or
silver in the nacre, so does one no more see 1
34
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
Jiva in Brahman when the latter is realized (as
one’s own self).
'So does one no more see , e/c.-— So long as a person is in ignorance
>he thinks himself as a Jiva which has an individuality of its own apart
from Brahman. But when with the dawn of real knowledge he rea-
lizes himself as one with Brahman, this Jivahood appears to him as
nothing but an illusion like the illusion of silver in the nacre.
TOT ^ JTTO mk I
|| \o ||
*WT Just as in earth ^2: a jar qur the name in
gold the name ear-ring in a nacre ffc
(expletive) the name ‘silver’ (erfta is) cpn so
in the supreme (Brahman) oftqqf.;: the word Jiva.
60. Just as earth is described as a jar,
gold as an ear-ring, and a nacre as silver, so
is Brahman described as Jiva.
TOST ssftfll srfac 4 TOT sfai TOST% I
3 ^ tot rrgfgtf f^rcTT^r u \\ n
Just as sqTfef in the sky sfts<4 blueness *rqT as RWIv*
in the deseit iftr water *pn as wro) in a post pqfq human
figure TTS3.SO in the Atman which is Conscious-
ness the universe is.)
61. Just as blueness in the sky, water in
the mirage, and a human figure in a post (are
but illusory), so is the universe in Atman. 1
'So is she universe in Atman — Not only Jiva, but the whole uni-
verse is an illusion in Atman. This is illustrated in various ways in
Shlokas 61-64.
SELF-REALIZATION
3 $
iFqsfkt gr ?i*tt i
fNrgHT 5fP[ ^ n & Ij
TO Just as $$ in empty space ifaiss: a ghost ?r«n as.
iFTOforf 3L a castle in the air ?«n as en^Rt in the sky
fiHJJtft} the vision of two moons (gf??T are) RjpL in the
same way in the supreme Truth (i.e. in Brahman)
spRlfclfh: the existence of the universe.
62. Just as the appearance of a ghost in
an empty place, of a castle in the air, and of a
second moon in the sky (is illusory), so is the
appearance of the universe in Brahman.
HEre ft pi frrer* wiw^<srai?*raT ii M ii
ipTf Just as as ripples and waves qst^water
tpl alone in the form of a vessel copper
verily surely appears cl*n so asnoeta: as the
whole universe ancRrlT Atmanhood ( rjftftf appears).
63. Just as it is water that appears as
ripples and waves, or again it is copper, that
appears in the form of vessel so it is Atman
that appears as the whole universe.
reran *t*iT reran f| rfcrc: i
srraran m nwrrcn: n n
JflJT Just as earth snpnsTT under the name of a jar,
cRR: threads verily qastrai under the name of a cloth
(armrfcT appear, ott so) fan, Chit (Atman) towtrU under
36
APAROKSHXNUBHUTI
the name of the universe BffVTTftT appears tnpTTOP by negat-
ing those (names) fi^That (Brahman) |trf is to be known.
64. Just as it is earth that appears under
the name of a jar, or it is threads that appear
under the name of a cloth, so it is Atman that
appears under the name of the universe. This
Atman is to be known 1 by negating the names.
1 This Atman is to be known , etc. — The knowledge of Atman
means only the removal of names and forms that are superimposed
upon It through ignorance.
STsfefa jisott fif^ sr: l
3WRT5T Crawls f| *T7T%^|| ^ ||
ur: By people all a?fq also aRgig: dealing asm in
and through Brahman is performed g but
through ignorance dearth tt^ alone fg verely asifips the
jars and other earthenwares ( gf?j this ) a not faawfcd
know ( 5RTs persons ).
65. People perform all their actions in and
through Brahman, (but on account of igno-
rance they are not aware of that), just as
through ignorance 1 persons do not know that
jars and other earthenwares are nothing but
earth.
l Just as through ignorance , etc .— In all our dealings with various
earthenwares we are actually dealing with earth, as by no manner
of means can earth be separated from earthenwares. So in all our
intercourse with the world we are, in fact, dealing with Brahman
which is non-separable from the world.
SELF-REALIZATION
37
TOT Just as mqft'. between a jar and earth
the relation of effect and cause f«RTO. ever sn^t exists aro
so sraTOVIWt: between the phenomenal world and Brah-
man sfogfaiwrt on the strength of scriptural texts and
reasoning $$ here ( hi aftpn%iT that is established ).
66. Just as there ever exists the relation of
cause and effect between earth and a jar, so
does the same relation 1 exist between Brahman
and the phenomenal world ; this has been
established here on the strength of scriptural
texts and reasoning.
1 So does the same relation, etc — The same relation of cause and
effect exists between Brahman and the world. But as the effect can
never be shown to be separate from the cause, this relation only
means their non-difference. The Shruti also declares : "All this is
identical with That" (i.e. Sat or Brahman) ( Chhand \ Up. Vl.viii. 7) ;
"All this this is verily Brahman" ( Chhand . Up- III.xiv.1).
qiPTFT qgSjfosRTSTTfrr $ SRSTrf |
STPSSft Sf^STRTTfw »TT§^|| ||
qgg. Just as sjS: when a jar is perceived JjfrWT
earth I (expletive) TOTg. perforce arnnfh accompanies (a*iT
so) erfq also 5iq5% when the phenomenal world is
seen shining Brahman alone arwrfH flashes.
67. Just as (the consciousness oQ earth
forces itself upon our mind while thinking of a
jar, so also does (the idea of) ever-shining
Brahman flash on us 1 while contemplating on
the phenomenal world.
l So also does*. .flash on us, etc.— In some rare moment, while we
think very deeply about the evanescent nature of this world, we be-
38
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
come almost intuitively aware of Brahman* the permanent entity
behind these changing phenomena, for change necessarily implies
something that is unchanging.
feg g t s fa ugsfr *TfM i
fg%lT 1 1 II
en^TI Atman ever fag?: pure arfigf is % verily tr (ex-
pletive) always 8?§fg: impure *rrfb appears q«R just as
*33|: a rope atfMp^ always 9 t£r: to a wise man st^lf^R: to
an ignorant man in two different ways (*nfh
appears).
68. Atman, though ever pure 1 (to a wise
man), always appears to be impure (to an igno-
rant one), just as a rope always appears in two
different ways 2 to a knowing person and an
ignorant one.
‘Pure— i.e. without any modification such as the body.
* In two different ways — As a rope and as a snake.
fwrera^sfq |
W Just as f»rr: ajar jj^r: made of earth rfg^so^:
the body stfir also f^iR: all consciousness s?gi|: by the
ignorant enf this BTT?fTRTRfa*TTm the division into the Self
and non-Self g*R in vain Spilt is made.
69. Just as a jar is all earth, so also is the
body all consciousness. The division, there-
fore, into the Self and non-Self is made by the
ignorant to no purpose. 1
x The division ... to no purpose— The dualists erroneously think
that the body and Atman are two separate entities independent of
SELF-REALIZATION
39
each other. This, however, does them no good, as it deprives them
of the realisation of the non-dual Atman which is the summum
bonum.
f s r fi qf fai ^rsn^rTT n «on
?PJT Just as rnj: a rope Q<f^r as a snake a nacre
l5TcTc%JT as a piece of silver ( is imagined ) <f*JT so
siHTcIT the nature of Atman by an ignorant person
as the body fafaaffflT is determined.
70. Just as a rope is imagined to be a snake
and a nacre to be a piece of silver, so is the
Atman determined to be the body by an
ignorant person. 1
l By an ignorant person — By a rank materialist who declares the
body or matter to be the ultimate reality and denies the existence of
the Atman apart from the body.
[How this erroneous knowledge arises out of a confusion between
the real and the apparent is illustrated in stanzas 70-74.]
ralrc qzcgifo rTfeicf: i
filftuffcTT ?WrJT?!T II 1 1
Jjsqr Just as gttfY earth *K&«T as a jar threads
as a cloth tpr (expletive) cl*TT so, etc.
71. Just as earth is thought of as a jar
(made of it) and threads as a cloth, so is
Atman, etc.
fapRfdl ^!T rr*TT?*rn || WR ||
4
40
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
JBsrc&GoldgpsB&iT as an ear-ring are* water 3 (expletive)
as waves R*TT so, etc.
72. Just as gold is thought of as an ear-ring
and water as waves, so is the Atman, etc.
it PTTtpfafSfa TrrVf^T 1
II v»^ ||
WfSp The stump of a tree »pq<^r as a human figure q
(expletive) a mirage as water a«T so, etc.
73. Just as the stump of a tree is mistaken
for a human figure and a mirage for water, so
is the Atman, etc.
srrsTft ^it I
?RTT3RT 11 ||
SETfTfc A quantity of wood qtj&t as a house tpr
(expletive) iron as a sword (expletive)
?T*TT so, etc.
74. Just as a mass of wood work is thought
of as a house and iron as a sword, so is the
Atman, etc.
[Stanzas 70 and 73 are illustrative of a set of false knowledge due
to an error of judgment, whereas the other three stanzas deal only
with imperfect knowledge in which forms are made much of in dis-
regard of substance which is the reality behind them,]
<r*TT |
WRTOFflfrro n v*k ii
qsjT Just as ^ren^on account of water to some
one isrfaqqfa: the illusion of a tree vpffit arises so
SELF-REALIZATION
41
(qfft: an individual soul) emrofUig: through the touch of ig-
norance snwfa in Atman the physical form q^rftl sees.
•
75. Just as one sees the illusion 1 of a tree
on account of water, so does a person on account
of ignorance see Atman as the body.
1 Illusion , etc.— The tree is not in the water. It is only a reflection
due to water that the person sees.
[How ignorance makes one think of the ever-pure Atman as
appearing in material forms is described in stanzas 75*86 through
various illustrations culled from everyday experience.]
tfa: sri*
ii w
By boat going qg: to a person gq* everything
moving as if «nfb appears gg^so, etc.
76. Just as to a person going in a boat
everything appears to be in motion, so does
one, etc.
qrowrofora: n ^ ii
*T*n Just as gwfag.to one gtqrg. owing to a defect
in a white thing iftagr yellowness verily ggfh appears
rT§[flL
77. Just as to a person suffering from a
defect (jaundice) white things appear as yellow,
so does one, etc.
gs3T?*dg ^ q wgw p rfrw : n II
42
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
spwft«5r*lt apt to see wrongly qgwrf* through eyes
everything spTKtpB^ defective *nfh appears cigftso, etc.
78. Just as to a person with defective eyes
everything appears to be defective, so does one,
etc.
mwiwfom: ii \»( it
ejaid A firebrand through mere rotation 3^3.
like the sun qasi round *nfh appears aaftso, etc.
79. Just as a firebrand, through mere
rotation, appears circular like the sun, so does
one, etc.
srfosjtf: 1
5T5^ri?T ^
Of a H things (erfSr) in spite of largeness
atftnjfi: owing to great distance Wojc«f minuteness % indeed
Oltfe appears) agcf so, etc.
80. Just as all things that are really large
appear to be very small owing to great distance,
so does one, etc.
rrssrarft u <\ li
gWRPlt Of all objects Cot Pi) in spite of minute-
ness through lenses grossness (3iqfa appears)
ciffct so, etc.
SELF-REALIZATION
43
81. Just as all objects that are very small
appear to be large when viewed through lenses,
so does one, etc.
sit sreajjft % sbtsrt i
5 T 5 ?TcT|fe |l CR l|
In a surface of glass orsc# the state of water
qranjpV in a surface of water gr or fg (expletive) the
state of glass (tsnfcl appears) ug^so, etc.
82. Just as a surface of glass is mistaken
for water, or vice versa, so does one, etc.
srsssft % *ro?r srr t|%rr
%?si ii ii
JJ 53 ( Just as giTR a person etjft in fire ufar# the state of
being a jewel (expletive) ST or in a jewel S% 3 T the
state of fire (q^sfb sees) ag^so, etc.
83. Just as a person imagines a jewel in fire
or vice versa, so does one, etc.
tTRcg '<TRf?r mm 3 i
rtssraift ^4 \\ c's ii
While clouds move utq: the moon ir (ex-
pletive) t-nsfa is moving (g% thus) appears Ugg. so, etc.
84. Just as when clouds move, the moon
appears to be in motion, so does one, etc.
II O* ii
44
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
sfqq Just as through confusion of one
ftfMwfu: mistake about different directions arises
33ft. so» etc.
85. Just as a person through confusion
loses all distinction between the different points
of the compass, so does one, etc.
^ || |l
2T«rr Just as srcft the moon ^ in water as
unsteady ^rf^to one snfh appears 35^ so, etc.
86. Just as' the moon (when reflected) in
water appears to one as unsteady, so docs one,
etc.
'Just as, etc .— It is the reflection which is unsteady, not the moon.
% 3tt^ i
TOWf* II c» II
t^HThus arfasjTd: through ignorance anwfa in Atman
Tirana: the delusion of the body % verily arises a tjq
that very delusion a again through the
realization of Atman in the supreme Atman efoRf
disappears.
87. Thus through ignorance arises in
Atman the delusion of the body, 1 which, again,
through Self-realization, disappears in the su-
preme Atman. 2
'The delusion of the body--T\\z delusion of matter in general. In
fact, matter is but a concoction of our mind, and therefore has no
real existence.
SELF-REALIZATION
45
* Which , again... disappears in the supreme Atman— When one
realizes that Atman alone is, and nothing else exists, ignorance with
all its effects, such as the delusion of the body and the like, ceases
to exist for ever. •
Wtt WJrl I
?R*TT^TJft ^T5?mT frP II °= II
( 3J5T When ) immovable and movable
whole 5r*Tcl_ the universe sfR<9cI^TT as Atman md Owfh) is
known ( then ) UWWHt of all objects 8RHn<![. in
consequence of negation i^zr of the body ^ ( expletive )
fg: where snRtrdT appearance as Atman ?
88. When the whole universe, movable and
immovable, is known to be Atman, and thus the
existence of everything else is negated, where is
then any room 1 to say that the body is Atman ?
1 Where is then any room. etc. — So long as a person is in ignorance
he confounds the body with Atman. But with the dawn of Know-
ledge, when everything melts away and only the non-dual Atman
remains, there is hardly any room for one to see the body at all,
much less to declare it to be Atman.
3TT?HR 3RRT STR*, JR 1
^pRtfiT || ||
(^T.) ^ O thou of great illumination enOTR Atman
UrRf ever in^t. contemplating all sn«qq.the Prarabdha
jjaiq. experiencing z*nc5 time «rq pass worry to feel
sf not deserve.
89. O enlightened one, pass your time
always contemplating on Atman while you are
experiencing all the results of Prarabdha 1 ; for it
ill becomes you 2 to feel distressed.
46
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
x Pr&rdbdha— According to the Karma -theory Prarabdha is that
part of our past actions which, through their cumulative force* has
given birth to this body.
ill becomes you , etc ,— Because one who ever dwells on Atman
is already free and above all sorrows, and though he lives and moves
like ordinary mortals, he knows it for certain that none of his acts
has any binding force upon him.
[There are two other sets of actions known as Sanchita Karma or
those of our past actions which are still reserved to give birth to
future bodies, and Kriyamana Karma or actions that are being done
in this life.]
l| $o ||
enOTfauft The knowledge of Atman after the orig-
ination of arfir even Pnlrabdha ( uur a person) q
not 5^% leave trq verily 5% thus which s&Rsf in the
scripture wi is heard ^ that aijpf now ff^TfspRl is being
refuted.
90. The theory one hears of from the scrip-
ture, 1 that Prs,rabdha does not lose its hold 2
upon one even after the origination of the
knowledge of Atman, is now being refuted.
'From the scripture— From such scriptural texts as : “The delay m
his case is oniy so long as he is not released (from the body), then he
will attain to Brahman.” (ChhTmd. Up, Vi.xiv.2).
9 Prarabdha does not lose its hold, etc , — The Shruti in many places
has declared that even a Jnani is not free from the operation of
Prarabdha. Shankara has dealt with this point at length in his com*
mentaries on Chkandogya Up, (VI. xiv 2), Vedanta-Sutras (lV.i.15),
and GitA (IV. 37). In all those places he has supported the popular
view that Prarabdha is binding on even the Jnani. But here as well
as in his Vivekachudamani (453-463) he has boldly asserted the true
Vedantic view without any compromise. He has clearly shown that
to a inani there is no such thing as the body, and it is meaningless to
say that he is any longer under the influence of Prarabdha, winch has
SELF-REALIZATION
47
no hold upon the bodiless Atman. The author brings in his argu-
ments in support of this view in stanzas 91 and 92.
sirs? 3* %pr i
ii ** ||
After the origination of the knowledge
of Reality 3 (expletive) of the body and the like
SKr?3T3.in consequence of non-existence Prarabdha *r
not trq verily foqi) exists qqi just as dream on
waking.
91. After the origination of the knowledge
of Reality, Prarabdha verily ceases to exist,
inasmuch as the body 1 and the like become non-
existent ; just as a dream does not exist on
waking.
1 Inasmuch as the body , etc.—' The body, mind, intelligence and the
like have their existence only in ignorance and therefore cannot exist
when the latter is entirely destroyed by Knowledge. In the absence
of the body, Prarabdha also necessarily ceases to exist, since there
remains nothing on which it can act.
SRRTRRfci ETRSqfrT% |
?rer stficfarf II II
WIFtlfaf Acquired in a previous life which
Karma (^ that) srrcN Prarabdha as stftffan is called
«re: of the man (of knowledge) eRtRRWWni; in the absence
of future birth that (Prarabdha) 3 but sj not verily
«ftfaq(at any time exists.
92. That Karma which is done in a previous
life is known as Prarabdha (which produces the
48
APAROKSHANUBHim
cannot take the
Pjace of Prsrdbdha <fof a man of knowledge)
ad he has no other birth (being free from egS).
wiwtwbnf f$ i
f| ?r* §3: n^n
m\ lust as the body in a dream spuRa: is super-
imposed cMT so (expletive) m this : the body (8TTO:
is superimposed) trsr verily * of what is superimpos-
ed birth fa: how 'Qrtrafa is possible) in the
absence of birth (of the body) rRf. that (Pryrabdha) ftf:
how ffc at all (8tfef is) ?
93. Just as the body in a dream is super-
imposed ( and therefore illusory), so is also this
body. 1 How could there be any birth of the
superimposed (body), and in the absence of
birth 2 (of the body) where is the room for that
(i.e. Prarabha) at all ?
1 So is also this body — This body of the waking state is also a
superimposition on the itnain and is therefore unreal. Only an ignor-
ant man think* this body to be more real than the body assumed in
a dream, but, to aman of knowledge there exists no such distinction,
inasmuch as both are but the creation of the mind through ignorance.
*In the absence of b { rth — Prarabdha is imagined as the cause of the
body, but when there is no such thing as the body, there is hardly any
scope for Prarabdha.
STT^q 3i*SRr 1
^ USyll
WMKWM ♦
By the Vediata texts «T»iw of a >r ^«attk p
like srosiw of the phenomenal wprl&anflf ignorance 'ft®*'
pletive) OTTfW the material ( cause ) tjf verily ’*•
declared q fe w S that being destroyed ftw the state of
the universe f| where (fbg% subsists) ?
94. The Vedanta texts declare 1 ignorance
to be verily the material (cause) of the
phenomenal world just as earth is of a jar.
That (ignorance) being destroyed, 2 where can
the universe subsist ?
'The Vedanta texts declare, etc,— The word Vedanta here means
the Upamshads which form the latter part of the Vedas. The texs
alluded to here are : “Know May 7 (ignorance) to be the Praknti
(i,e. material of the universe) ( Sveta Up iv, 10), and so on.
2 That (rgnoiancc) being dest toyed, etc— The cause being com-
pletely destroyed, the effect must cause to exist A piece of cloth
cannot exist when the threads aie all burnt , so the world cannot
contmue when ignorance is destroyed.
W ^ qfreisq *ro' qgTft 3 I
rTgjf 5f«Trl JJ5S ft: || II
UUT Just as fsrsr a person) sulci out of confusion rusr
the rope leaving aside the snake er indeed iJUTfct
perceives ^Tg^so ijjtvfl: an ignorant person apf truth
without knowing spt^the phenomenal world sees.
95. Just as a person out of confusion per-
ceives only the snake leaving aside the rope, so
does an ignorant person see only the phenom-
enal world without knowing the reality.
i
50
APAROKSHANUBHUT1
rsgfft (On) the real nature of the rope being
known urcra? the appearance of the snake sr not
remains so erfqgft STRl the substratum (the reality
behind) being known jot?: the phenomenal world yjJJdl
extinction »rj: attains.
96. The real nature of the rope being
known, the appearance of the snake no longer
persists ; so the substratum being known, 1 the
phenomenal world disappears completely.
l The substratum being known , etc .—' This illusory world has Brah-
man as its substratum which is hidden from one’s view on account
of ignorance. But when one realizes this Brahman by removing
ignorance, one is no more deluded into seeing the phenomenal world
which, like all other illusory things, vanishes completely before the
knowledge of the truth.
Of the body arfa also stream on account of
phenomenality the existence of Prarabdha
how (etfta is) wfa: the Shruti atfifaajjprtsiTO for the
understanding of the ignorant folk «r only Prarabdha
wfai speaks.
97. The body also being within the phenom-
enal world (and therefore unreal), how could
Prarabdha exist ? It is, therefore, for the under-
standing of the ignorant 1 alone that the Shruti
speaks of Prarabdha.
1 For the understanding of the ignorant — These who do not know
the highest truth argue that if ignorance with all its effects is
destroyed by Knowledge, how does the body of a Jnani live, and
how is it possible for him to behave like ordinary mortals ? They,
however, fail to see that it is they who, being still in ignorance, see
SELF-REALIZATION
51
the body of a Jnani and speak of him as behaving this way or that,
whereas the Jnani himself never sees the body at all, as he is ever
established in Atman. To convince such persons the Sruti brings in
Prarabdha as a tentative explanation for the so-called behaviour of a
Jnani.
^ ^ *<J2* II ||
'WRft (On) that which is both the higher and the
lower being realized his $nffbr all actions ^ and
are destroyed (^fa thus) «R3fT by the Shruti ugpf the
use of the plural number ^ which *$£ clearly rfftt is
declared (that) ^ also ftftpfcnq* for the negation of that
(Prarabdha).
98. “And all the jictions 1 of a man perish
when he realizes that (Atman,) which is both the
higher and the lower.” Here the clear use of
the plural 2 by the Shruti is to negate Prarabdha
as well.
Ui And all the actions ,’* etc .— The Shruti text runs as follows : “The
knot of the heart breaks, all doubts vanish, and (all) his actions
perish when a person realizes that which is both the higher and the
lower 4 * {Mund. Up . II 2.viii).
9 Here. ..the plural , etc .—' The Shruti by using the term 'actions* has
very clearly declared that not only Sanchita and Kriyamana Karmas
but also Prarabdha Karma is destroyed by knowledge. The Gita
also declares, “O Arjuna, the fire of knowledge reduces all actions
into ashes’* (1V.37). Moreover, it also stands to reason that Prarab-
dba, an effect of ignorance, must cease to exist when the latter is
destroyed by knowledge.
I
sgfi: By the ignorant nssni perforce this is main*
tained still then room for two absurdities
52
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
faflRfer will be) abandonment of the Vedantic
conclusion ^ also (era: therefore) !Rf: from which ^n«f
knowledge (*rafcl arises) 5% (ra) that w%: Shruti (jb®t
should be accepted).
99. If the ignorant still arbitrarily 1 main-
tain this, 2 they will not only involve themselves
into two absurdities 3 but will also run the risk of
forgoing the Vedantic conclusion. 4 So one
should accept those Shrutis alone 5 from which
proceeds true knowledge.
1 Arbitrarily— By sheer force of one’s own predilections, and not
on the strength of sound reasoning.
2 77ifo-i.e. the possibility of Prarabdha and its action even after
knowledge.
3 Involve themselves into two absurdities — The upholders of
Prarabdha are driven to this absurd position : In the first place,
Moksha or liberation from the bonds of duality will be impossible
for them, as there will always remain a second thing, Prarabdha,
along with Brahman ; and in the second place liberation, the sole aim
of knowledge, being impossible, there will hardly remain any utility
of knowledge, and in that case they have to give up the Shruti on
which they build their theory, as useless since the Shruti has no other
function but to lead to knowledge. Such are the disastrous conse-
quences one has to encounter if one is to maintain Prarabdha to the
end.
A Run the risk of forgoing the Vedantic conclusion — The final
conclusion of the Vedanta is that there is only one non-dual Brahman
or Atman which is birthless, deathless, and free from all modifica-
tions. The world of duality is the creation of ignorance and will
cease to exist when the latter is destroyed by knowledge. So persons
who maintain that Prarabdha will remain even after knowledge and
thus uphold a sort of duality even in the last stage, surely sacrifice
the ultimate Vedantic truth which is essentially non-dual in its
character.
* Those Shrutis alone , etc. — The realization of the non-dual Atman
alone constitutes the real knowledge, and the Shrutis are the only
means to such knowledge. But all of them do not bring about this
knowledge. So those Shrutis alone which teach the non-dual Atman
SELF-REALIZATION
53
and thus directly lead us to the final realization, are to be accepted
as the real, and all others that support duality are to be treated as
secondary, as they have no direct bearing upon the knowledge, of
Truth.
[In connection with the main topic it may be said that one should
abide by those Shrutis alone which establish the non-dual Atman by
denying all actions of it, and not by those that maintain Prarabdha
and thus lend support to duality].
sf: 5 ii *°o H
epft Now of the aforesaid (knowledge) (ex-
pletive) for the attainment fyWH fl fa fifteen steps
(Wg I) ^ shall expound by the help of them all ^
(expletive) fbf^'anmn. profound meditation qq verily g
(expletive) always should be practised.
100. Now, for the attainment 1 of the afore-
said (knowledge), I shall expound the fifteen
steps by the help of which one should practise
profound meditation at all times.
1 Now, far the attainment , e/c.-Venes 24-28 have set forth in detail
the nature of knowledge which is the goal of life. Rut it is not
sufficient only to know about the goal ; one must acquaint oneself
with the means of its attainment as well. The fifteen steps here
inculcated are the means which, if earnestly followed, will gradually
lead the initiate to the desired goal.
SWT? BIT fof fon fr fStel Tg: && II \ 0 \ l|
ftcBnarrardl Without constant practice gfalTctR: of the
Atman that is absolute existence and knowledge stifg:
realization not arises so the seeker after
knowledge for the highest goodagt Brahman far long
fafanfa. should meditate.
54
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
101. The Atman that is absolute existence
and knowledge cannot be realized without con-
stant practice. So one seeking after knowledge
should long meditate upon Brahman 1 for the
attainment of the desired goal.
1 Should long meditate upon Brahman — The realization of Brahman
does not come in a day ; it requires years of strenuous effort. One
should not, therefore, give up one's practice even if one meets with
failure in the initial stages, but should continue it with renewed
vigour Sri Ramakrishna used to say : a hereditary cultivator never
gives up his cultivation even if there is no crop for a few years ; he
continues it with ever-increasing zeal till he reaps a good harvest. So
should a true aspirant.
*r*?l % i
3TT5R JJSSSFSJST ^ l| II
3TRJT»*TR Wrrfasi jftffiFqWTft 3 II
Control of the senses f^[ (expletive) fJpjjr: control
of the mind c9Tn: renunciation tfcf silence «! 3 i: place
«RdT time ^ and etra*r posture JjjjJSRr: the root that
restrains ^ and equipoise of the body
steadiness of vision ^ and control of the vital
forces t^ also SRJTRRs self-withdrawal concentration
^ and ejRqwrw meditation on Atman mufe: complete
absorption and t ( expletive ) atjnfa the steps in
order are described.
102-103. The steps, 1 in order, are described
as follows: the control of the senses, the control
of the mind, renunciation, silence, space, time,
posture, the restraining root (Mulabandha), the
SELF-REALIZATION
55
equipoise of the body, the firmness of vision, the
control of the vital forces, the withdrawal of tlje
mind, concentration, self-contemplation, and
complete absorption.
x The steps — These fifteen steps include the eight steps of Patanjali,
but with a reorientation of meaning as will be evident from the
following.
qmtatfafa 5151 : || SI
df‘ All SJSJ Brahman { aiffci is ) from such
knowledge ^fcpntifKfcrii: the restraint of all the senses epf
this 5 % as Yama is rightly called (*p this) gg a gg t
repeatedly snaRFfop should be practised.
104. The restraint of all the senses by means
of such knowledge as “All this is Brahman” is
rightly called Yama, 1 which should be practised
again and again.
1 Yama —Patanjali describes is as “non-killing, truthfulness, non-
stealmg. continence, and non-receiving” (11.30) : but whcui one knows
everything to be Brahman ail of these follow as a matter of course.
5$: II II
qq i rfau wii g : The cotinuous flow of one kind of thought
finrRfarffRtffb: the rejection of all that is foreign to it q and
(ffh this) fJpffp Niyama is called) (apf this) f| verily
T(W^t the supreme blfcs fenf this) vut by the wise fipRncJ
regularly ftpiit is practised.
105. The continuous flow of only one kind of
thought 1 to the exclusion of all other thoughts,
5
56
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
is called Niyama, 2 which is verily the supreme
bjiss and is regularly practised by the wise.
x One kind of thought — Thought relating to the unity of the
individual self with Brahman such as “This Atman is Brahman/’
and “1 am Brahman.”
9 Niyama — According to Patanjali Niyama is “internal and
external purification, contentment, mortification, Vedic study, and
worship of God” (11.32). These, however, are easily accessible to
one who constantly dwells on Brahman.
cqpft n \o\ \\
Realizing it as the all-conscious Atman
SPJWPW of the illusory universe STOP abandonment %
verily Ifijctf of the great honoured 9JTR: renunciation
is) qcF because this ) *rj: immediately of
the nature of liberation is).
106. The abandonment of the illusory uni-
verse by realizing it as the all-conscious Atman
is the real 1 renunciation honoured by the great,
since it is of the nature of immediate liberation.
l The real renunciation— Some explain renunciation as the giving
up of all kinds of actions whether scriptural or mundane, and thus
attaining to a state of inactivity. This, however, is far from what is
really meant by renunciation which, in its deepest sense, is all
positive. It is when one realizes Atman everywhere and thus covets
nothing, that one is said to have real renunciation. The Shruti also
declares, “Clothe everything in this transitory world with God and
thus maintain thyself by that renunciation,” etc. (Isa. I).
SELF-REALIZATION
S 7
giq: Words (aa that) etsiM without reaching sfroi at
with the mind qwid. from which ftRa»?f turn back
which tfcr silence aftfafa: by the Yogins nwf attainable
the wise one uqqr always aa^ that should be.
107. The wise should always be one with
that silence 1 wherefrom words 2 together with
the mind turn back without reaching it, but
which is attainable by the Yogins. 3
1 That silence — Here it denotes Atman which is ever quiescent.
a Wherefrom words, etc ,— It is a reference to the Taittiriya
Upanishad (II.9).
Attainable by the Yogins — Because it is their very self.
TOifiwSsit %a smfr i
qq>3q: y g^ f qqfaa : |1 ||
f*TCT § WTSTRt SIJtP || ||
twira From which ^Tq: words turn back aa that
by whom qaf to be described is capable qfq if
SFRi the phenomenal world tr3*q: to be spoken of alsfq
even that ^fsrafsta: devoid of words (q*% is) or this
qi or this (q^ which) aat among the sages called
congenital a^ that iftsr silence qitajs fhtT by (restraining)
speech ifla silence WRgjqrfqfvr: by the teachers of Brahman
WSM'l for children sigqi* ordained.
108-109. Who * can describe That (i.e.
Brahman) whence words turn away? (So silence
is inevitable while describing Brahman). Or if the
phenomenal world were to be described, even
that is beyond words. 1 This, 2 to give an alternate
58
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
definition, may also be termed silence known
among the sages as congenital. 3 The observance
of silence by restraining speech, on the other
hand, is ordained by the teachers of Brahman
for the ignorant.
'Even that is beyond words— "Even this world, when one attempts to
describe it, is found to be inexpressible, since it cannot be called either
Sat (existent) or Asat (non-existent). If it were Sat it would not
disappear in deep sleep, and if Asat, it would not at all appear now.
Therefore this world is also Anirvachaniya (inexpressible).
'This —' The inexpressibility of Brahman and the world.
8 Congenital — Inseparable from Atman
^ Srra ^ n ll
In the beginning aret in the end ^ and ipit in the
middle ^ as also gfar* in which apt: people (i.e. the
universe) «r not f«rej% exists 3hr by which ^ this (universe)
RcRf always httH is pervaded g: that solitude
space is known.
110. That solitude 1 is known as space,
wherein the universe does not exit in the
beginning, end or middle, but whereby it is
pervaded at all times.
1 That solitude— Here it is Brahman that is indicated, for Brahman
alone is solitary, since It admits of no second at any time.
SraTJrTTsrt TOTifai |
fiHw- In the twinkling of an eye beginning
with Brahma of all beings gspng. on account of
SELF-REALIZATION
producing undivided bliss ejgrq: non-dual
(verily) by the word time ftfe: denoted.
111. The non-dual (Brahman) that is bliss
indivisible is denoted by the word ‘time’, since
it brings into existence, 1 in the twinkling of an
eye all beings from Brahma downwards.
'It brings into existence , etc .—' The whole creation is nothing but a
resolve in the mind of God. When He has a desire for Creation the
universe is produced in no time. A parallel case we find in our dream
when the whole dreamworld is brought into being in an instant by a
mere wish.
Not only the power of creation but also that of preservation and
destruction is also meant.
, A rVr ■ -■ r ,
3TTCR wfi^HtaT^rTTrl. pTCRH^II II
rjftjR Where easily verily unceasingly
meditation on Brahman becomes RS that
sna^(^ ) as posture should know;
destroying happiness any other sr not.
112. One should known that' as real posture
in which the meditation on Brahman flows
spontaneously and unceasingly, and not any
other 2 that destroys one’s happiness.
1 That , etc. — i.e. a serene state of the constitution.
9 Not any other , etc .— Not any posture which brings about physical
pains and thus distracts the blind from the meditation of Brahman by
dragging it down to the lower plane.
tfwi. fogT: (WfagHdt fagRPT ll m ||
60
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
33 which OTijjnfij the origin of all beings
the support of the whole universe 9R33i£ immutable ($fi|
thus) well known in which ftpgT: Siddhas (the
enlightened) wnftgT: completely absorbed 33 that $ alone
( < ff&S3T! the wise) as Siddbasana know.
113. That which is well known as the origin
of all beings and the support of the whole
universe, which is immutable and in which the
enlightened are completely merged ...that alone
is known as Siddhasana. 1
'Siddhasarta — This is the name of a particular Yogic posture, but
here it only means the eternal Brahman.
[Incidentally, two particular postures known to the Yogis are
mentioned in this and the next verse, and explained with reference to
Brahman ]
f^FVWq i
IJsSSFsr: ?CT5pflf7RTH II ||
33 ^ Which y<t>ij!rwi of all existence rjji the root
the restraint of the mind on which is
rooted ( clef that) the restraining root (353%is
called) nwh&HTq,of the Raja-yogins jftnt: fit ewt this 3$r
always ifcj: should be adopted.
114. That (Brahman) which is the root of
all existence and on which the restraint of the
mind 1 is based is called the restraining root
(Mulabandha) 2 which should always be adopted
since it is fit for Raja-yogins.
'The restraint of the mind, etc .— It is through complete mergence
in Brahman that the mind is truly restrained.
'Mulabandha— This is also the name of another Yogic posture.
SELF-REALIZATION
01
[The truth underlying all this is that while seated for meditation
one should not bother much about the postures, but always try to
engage one's whole attention to the meditation of Brahman which
alone constitutes the goal.]
arjfHt Wtfrt *rif
ii it
^ Homogeneous aipfar in Brahman absorption
enn<lt of the limbs equipoise should know qf
^otherwise gt^w^like a dried-up tree straightness
•I not trq verily mmrtf^equipoise is).
115. Absorption in the uniform Brahman
should be known as the equipoise of the limbs
(Dehasiimya;. Otherwise mere straightening of
the body like that of a dried-up tree is no equi-
poise.
HT *T II U% II
sfa The vision full of knowledge ?*qT making
the world to be Brahman itself should
view m that vision qytouT noble («rafh is) «r not
•ngi8l<(3!fc<ft that which sees the tip of the nose.
1 16. Converting the ordinary vision into one
of knowledge one should view the world as
Brahman Itself. That is the noblest vision, 1 and
not that which is directed to the tip of the nose.
1 Noblest vision — Because before it there is no distinction of high
or low, great or small, since everything is merged in one all-pervading
Brahman.
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
TO 3T I
rWta ^s?rr * n n
ff Or of the seer, sight, and the seen TO
where faw: cessation happens gshr there alone sfe:
vision should be directed if not TOnsmshfMl
seeing the tip of the nose.
117. Or, one should direct one’s vision to
That 1 alone where all distinction of the seer,
sight, and the seen ceases and not to the tip of
the nose. 2
x To That—i.e. to Brahman which is pure consciousness, and
wherein alone ceases the distinction of the seer, sight, and the seen,
that a priori triad of all perceptions.
9 Not to the tip of the nose - It is said that while seated for
meditation one is to gaze on the tip of the nose (Gita, VI. 13). But
one should not take it too literally, as in that case the mind will
think not of £ man, but of the nose. As a matter of fact, one is to
concentrate one’s mind on Atman alone, leaving aside all external
things. This is why meditation of Atman is here emphasized and
mere gazing on the tip of the nose is condemned.
srairfrri sn°n*n*n s n ii
In all mental states such as Chitta
TO&3 as Brahman verily through the faculty of
remembrance of all modifications of the mind
(<p which) fattq: restraint g: that SWTTOn Pranayama
(control of the vital forces) is called.
118. The restraint of all modifications of the
mind by regarding all mental states like the
Chitta as Brahman alone, is called Pranayama.
SELF-REALIZATION
fjfonr spt^iw ^nfhcnr: i
*t ^ sigflfcr: n ns. H*
g re rc3 |fa3igg g ? *b'*h>: RFrefam: i
asri srp^TOUKT HToiqk^i n \Ro ||
srro^ar Of the phenomenal world negation
^PRRFf! known as Rechaka (exhalation) u*ftrw: breath
(art^i is) (efij I) n# Brahman q* alone etfttf am 5% that jjt
which ffa: thought (ST that) ^5: Puraka (inhalation) ^13;
breath ffccl: is called S3: thereafter the steadiness
of that thought Kumbhaka (holding the breath)
is called) spf this ejfa ^ also afgjst of the enlightened
STTWTTW the control of the vital force (i.e. Prnnayama)
is) sifftt of the ignorant snnpft^tq, pressing of the
nose (*Rfa is).
119-120. The negation of the phenomenal
world is known as Rechaka (breathing out), the
thought, “I. am verily Brahman,” is called
Puraka (breathing in), and the steadiness of that
thought thereafter is called Kumbhaka (restrain-
ing the breath). This is the real course of
Priinaysima 1 for the enlightened, whereas the
ignorant only torture the nose.
1 Praalyama — Patan j al i describes it as “controlling the motion
of the exhalation and the ihhalation” (11.49). There are three steps in
it. The first one is to draw in the breath (Puraka), the next is to hold
it for some time in the lungs (Kumbhaka), and the last is to throw it
out (Rechaka). Patanjali holds that the mind will be naturally
controlled if its communications with the external world are cut off
by restraining the breath. But Sankara here maintains that the
breath is entirely dependent on the mind and not vice versa so that.
64
APAR0KSHANUBHUT1
instead of frittering away one’s energy in the attempt to restrain the
breath one should always try to control the mind. When this is ac-
complished, the restraint of the breath will follow as a matter of
cofirse.
sr sgffir: n ii
In all objects atRiffit selfhood v&l realizing hsrp
of the mind fafa in the Supreme Consciousness
absorption ( this ) scttsr: PratyahTira is to be
known that gjjgfvr: by that seekers after liberation
should be practised.
121. The absorption of the mind in the
Supreme Consciousness by realizing Atman in
all objects is known as Pratyiihara 1 (withdrawal
of the mind) which should be practised by the
seekers after liberation.
l Praty?ihara—' “When the senses giving up their own objects take
the form of the mind, as it were, it is Pratyahara” (Patanjali, 11.54).
But its consummation is reached only when the mind also is absorbed
in the supreme Consciousness.
^ JR) 1
SITCOT ^ SfROTT *TT TO *RTT || ^ II
zj5T *I5f Wherever qsf: the mind arrfcT goes f[Sf there sigpr:
of Brahman by realization juri: of the mind sjppii
fixing 3T that tpr alone ^ (expletive) supreme
Dharana sfcR is known.
122. The steadiness of the mind through
realization of Brahman wherever the mind goes,
is known as the supreme Dharana 1 (concentra-
tion).
SELF-REALIZATION
'The supreme Dhhram— “Dharana.” says Patanjali, “is holding
the mind on to some particular object' 1 (III.!). But when the mind is
fully concentrated on every object it comes in contact with, realizing
it as Brahman and discarding the names and forms that have been
superimposed on it by ignorance, then alone one is said to have
reached the culmination of Dharana.
II II
( I ) 351 Brahman ^ alone erfar am 5% dqffW T by
such unassailable thought fansutfliT depending on nothing
ffcrfd: remaining < 3 n*l 3 r^«l by the word Dhyiina
well known (ut this) productive of supreme
bliss ( «ni% is).
123. Remaining independent of everything
as a result of the unassailable thought, “I am
verily Brahman,” is well known by the word
Dhyrina 1 (meditation), and is productive of
supreme bliss.
'DhyTina— “An unbroken flow of thoughtin some particular object
is Dhyana” (Patanjali, 1 11.2). But it is perfected only when one
merges all thought in Brahman, realizing It to be one’s own self.
ftfforcrarT asrrEKrPrr gsr: i
t fefw rc w sraifasibw**: u u
SWT Of thought ljrffar«WT through changclessness 33:
again 3fiW»Hd 3T through iudentification with Brahman
complete forgetfulness of all mental
activity ( 3% this ) gtnfa: Samadhi ( 3^ is called >
( ew this ) known as knowledge.
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
66
124. The complete forgetfulness of all
thought by first making it changeless and then
identifying it with Brahman is called Samadhi
known also as knowledge. 1
* Known also as know'edge— Samadhi is by no means a state of un-
consciousness. Notwithstanding the absence of all objective thoughts
in it. the pure Consciousness is always there. To deny the presence of
consciousness in any state is a sheer impossibility, since it is the very
self of the person who denies it. Samadhi is, therefore, rightly called
knowledge.
^ to: sips: ^
(am: The aspirant) this (manifestor
of) uncreated bliss (expletive) ara^so long Ult| perfectly
■WMKlfl. should practise 3TR3. till qg: of the person
being under control SJtR: aa being called into action $ron<^
in an instant spontaneously spin, arises.
125. The aspirant should carefully practise
this (meditation) that reveals his natural bliss
until, being under his full control, it arises spon-
taneously, in an instant when called into action.
33^* * II
5RT* Then sfrftms the best among Yogis fas* (aa) being
perfected UPCTfiflfcfi: free from all practices siqfa becomes
tjaST of this (man of realization) an. that the real
nature fpa: of the mind fil^of speech ^ also faqsp object
'SI not (snfh becomes).
SELF-REALIZATION
67
126. Then he, the best among Yogis having
attained to perfection, becomes free from all
practices. 1 The real nature of such a man 2
never becomes an object of the mind or speech.
1 Becomes free from all practices — The various practices prescribed
here and elsewhere are merely means to the realization oF oae’s own
unity with Brahman, and are no longer necessary when such realization,
has been accomplished. The Gita also declares, “For one who has
been well established in Yoga, inaction is said to be the way" (VI.3).
9 The real nature of such a man— The Shruti declares, “He who
realizes the Supreme Brahman verily becomes Brahman*' ( Mund . Up .
III. ii. 9). His nature also merges in that of Brahman “which is-
beyond mind and speech*’ ( Tain Up. II. 9).
smTsft g fi a re i rc i fct $ turn. \
rzrr^sf hh%t src: ii u
HRTsfl ftpRTFt While Samadhi (concentration) is being
practised 3 (expletive) lack of inquiry
au«^f idleness desire for sense-enjoyment s?;
sleep eRP dullness distraction tasting of joy
5£i(3T blankness ^ also fqgift obstacles q indeed qsr^, per-
force suqTfcf appear such which fasraipif multiplicity
of obstacles ftef. that by the seeker after Brahman
Sph slowly should be avoided.
127-128. While practising Samadhi there
appear unavoidably many obstacles, such as
lack of inquiry, idleness, desire for sense-
pleasure, sleep, dullness, distraction, tasting of
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
€8
joy, 1 and the sense of blankness 2 . One desiring
the knowledge of Brahman should slowly get
rid of such innumerable obstacles.
1 Tasting of joy— After some progress is made in the path of
spirituality there arises in the mind of the asp rant a kind of pleasur-
able feeling as a result of concentration. This, however, greatly
hinders his spiritual progress, as it robs him of all enthusiasm for
further practice.
9 The sense of blankness — This is a state of mental torpidity
resulting from a conflict of desires.
5T«TT II ^ II
By the thought of an object f? verily
identification with the object arises) Qftrx^IT by the
thought of a void verily ^T?|T indentification with the
void arises) by the thought of Brahman ijfer
perfection f? verily arises) a«n so perfection
should practise a person).
129. While thinking of an object the mind
verily identifies itself with that, and while think-
ing of a void it really becomes blank, whereas
by the thought of Brahman it attains to
perfection. So one should constantly think of 1
(Brahman to attain) perfection.
l One should constantly think of, etc .— Whatever one thinks one
becomes. So one desiring to attain to perfection should leave aside
all thought of duality and fix one's mind upon the non-dual Brahman
which alone is perfect.
SELF-REALIZATION
^ Who f| (expletive) Tprf this qmj. supremely qppft^T
purifying S^T^lf the thought of Brahman nrjfg give
up % those «rt: persons § (expletive) fijq in vain
live qgfip to beasts <q also wn: equal (»iqf% are).
130. Those who give up this supremely
purifying thought of Brahman, live in vain and
are on the same level with beasts. 1
1 On the same level with beasts — Man has the unique opportunity
of realizing Brahman and thus becoming free from the bondage of
ignorance. But if he does not avail himself of this opportunity, he
can haTdly be called a man, as there remains nothing to distinguish
him trom the lower animals.
^ % #r fofTHfer srRtrrfq ^ i
^ 11 ^ n
^ Who virtuous persons f| (expletive) fffj the
consciousness (of Brahman) fasrwfcd know knowing
erf*T and % who (at that) qqqfar develop it those q indeed
t|sn: blessed (urcfat are) ft they in the three worlds
respected (*tqfal are).
131. Blessed indeed are those virtuous
persons who at first have this consciousness of
Brahman 1 and then develop it more and more.
They are respected everywhere.
'Have this consciousness* of Brahman, etc ,— After long practice, the
aspirant at first realizes, while in Samadhi, the presence of Brahman
which pervades the inner and the outer world. But this is not all. He
should then hold on this Brahmic consciousness until he feels his
identity with Brahman at every moment and thus becomes completely
free from the bonds of all duality and ignorance. This is the con*
summation of spiritual practice.
70
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
fRi: *wr isn qfrroT ^ m g*r. i
& q ^*RRrt srmi stat 3^r%: ii n
iftt Whose f%: consciousness (of Brahman) am same
f5T developed 9T that q also S* again mature %
they q alone y^s^^rf the state of ever-existent Brahman
STHK have attained to ^ others those who
dabble in words «t not.
132. Only those in whom this conscious-
ness 1 (of Brahman) being ever present grows
into maturity, attain to the state of ever-existent
Brahman ; and not others who merely deal
with words. 2
'This consciousness — that Brahman alone is the reality pervading
our whole being.
'Deal with words — Engage themselves in fruitless discussions
about Brahman by variously interpreting texts bearing upon It.
spcrer Huqrafart ff%$tor. gufiir. i
^S c q^TR?Rrr 5|jT ^ifrri ’q || ||
it Those in discussing about Brahman J5R5T:
clever devoid of the consciousness ( of Brahman)
(3 but) guftmp very much attached to (worldly pleasures)
^ they at Pi also at^RcnTT on account of their ignorance
surely gsj: again and again atwtfal come snfcl go q and.
133. Also those persons who are only clever
in discussing about Brahman but have no
realization, and are very much attached to
worldly pleasures, are born and die again and
again in consequence of their ignorance.
SELF-REALIZATION
71
fsRT \
*wt sisitsit: srsjtot: 5^1: 11 iv» fl
( SINfiTs The aspirarts ) sigffpft imbued with Brahman
fPn thought fan without ftJfare half an instant sr not
ftosfaf stay qqr just as St^rreiT: Brahma and others UTOTOT:
Sanaka and others Suka and others (if not)
remain.
134. The aspirants after Brahman should
not remain* a single moment without the
thought of Brahman, just like Brahma, Sanaka,
Suka, and others.
1 Should not remain, etc . — To be ever immersed fin the Brahmic
consciousness and thus identify oneself with It is the final aim of
Raja-Yoga.
[With this verse ends the exposition of Raja-Yoga in the light of
Vedanta.
We may mention here in passing that although there is no vital
difference between Raja-Yoga as expounded here and as found in the
Yoga-sutras of Patanjali so far as the final realization is concerned,
yet there is much difference in the practices. Patanjali has prescribed
the control of the body and Prana prior to the practice of meditation,
whereas the author here emphasizes the meditation of Brahman from
the very beginning and thus wants to lead the aspirant straight to the
goal.]
vnwrarmT 1
wft fea re r: u Mm 1
<5P? In the effect vrrffif the nature of the cause amnST
inheres in the cause sspRTT the nature of the effect n
not verily therefore farco: through reasoning
$prf*n% in the absence of the effect the causality
rr$3. disappears.
6
72
APAROKSIUNUBHUTI
135. The nature of the cause inheres in the
effect and not vice versa ; so through reasoning
it is found that in the absence of the effect 1 the
cause, as such also disappears.
x In the absence of the effect , ere.— The cause and the effect are
correlative ; as long as there is an effect there is a cause for it. But
when the effect is altogether absent, the cause, as such, can no longer
exist, as there remain nothing with reference to which it may be called
a cause.
3 *: 3 *: || ||
era Then ^ which I indeed pure of words
srataq. beyond the range sr*g reality ( ug. that )
remains of earth and the pot through the
illustration tj* verily ( a^that) g«t: again and again
jsra should be understood.
136. Then that pure reality (Brahman)
which is beyond speech alone remains. This
should be understood again and again verily
through the illustration of earth and the pot. 1
1 The illustration of earth and the pot — The illustration runs thus :
“Just as, my dear, by knowing a lump of earth everything made of
earth is known— the modifications are mere names originated by
speech, earth alone is the reality etc, ( Chhand . Up. VI.i.4). Here
also the phenomenal world exists only in name. Brahman alone is the
reality.
llWH T fo reT ^ 1
sg«RwRl ffafH 'Will II
•Ftsrf srefair In this very way gsfanwt of the pure-
minded a state of awareness (of Brahman) sbfb
aries m‘- ^thereafter (ut that) mental state JWlfbm
imbued with Brahman becomes.
SELF-REALIZATION
73
137. In this way alone 1 there arises in the
pure-minded a state of awareness (of Brahman),
which is afterwards merged into Brahman.
x In this way alone, etc.— By constant practice of contemplation
and discrimination there dawns on the mind of the aspirant the
knowledge that Brahman alone is, and nothing else exists.- TTrns the
ignorance which has so long deluded him by projecting the world of
duality, comes to an end. Thereafter the mind also, which by destroy-
ing ignorance has brought the aspirant so close to Brahman, vanishes
like the fire which after consuming its fuel is itself extinguished, then
Brahman alone shines in Its own glory.
^RDI
qq^fff II II
gin^A person at first sqfcft^or by the negative
method $TT<ii the cause should examine ;p: again
that ( i.e. cause ) ffc verily brSNt by the positive
method $12? in the effect fjRaf ever understands.
138. One should’ first look for the cause by
the negative method and then find it by the
positive method, as ever inherent in the effect.
l One should, etc .— The cause can be inferred either from a positive
or from a negative proposition. The positive proposition is : “Where
there is an effect, there must be a cause”; and the negative one is :
“Where there is no cause, there is no effect.” From either proposition
we come to the conclusion that there is Brahman which is the
cause of the world-phenomenon. For, if there were no Brahman
(cause), there would be no world at all ; again, there is the world
(effect), therefore there is Brahman (cause).
% s&TCW |
ll us. II '
74
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
SUT In the effect vwt the cause verily should
s$e qtrRI. afterwards *ER the effect should dismiss
IRP then the causality TCfN^goes away gfq: the sage
the residue becomes.
139. One should verily see the cause in the
effect, and then dismiss the effect altogether.
What then remains, 1 the sage himself becomes.
[An alternative method is suggested here.]
1 What then remains , etc .— When both cause and effect have thus
disappeared one may naturally conclude that only Shunya, a void, is
left behind. But it is not so. For absolute negation is an impossibility.
One may negate everything but cannot negate one’s own Self. So
when causality has been negated, what is beyond all negation is the
very Self of the enquirer, which is the ultimate reality.
With firm conviction most energetic-
ally that thing vnfafi is meditated upon gqr^a
person that f? verily quickly becomes
this ) from the illustration of the wasp and the
insect should be understood.
140. A person who meditates upon a thing
with great assiduity and firm conviction, be-
comes that very thing. This may be understood 1
from the illustration of the wasp and the worm.
'This may be understood, etc.— It is a popular belief that when a
wasp brings into its hole a particular kind of insect, the latter, out of
fear, constantly thinks of its assailant till it is transformed into a wasp.
So also if a person meditates upon Brahman with all his mind, he will
become Brahman in the course of time.
SELF-REALIZATION
75
STWRrRT ft?* ^T?«TiT *TT^5p: || \g\ \\ '
3^: The wise «re^f the invisible *n^m,the substantial
(i.e. the visible) ^ also everything the
nature of consciouness as one’s own Self qq
verily nTWT«RBTT with great care f*R?f always smdfa, should
think of.
141. The wise should always think with great
care of the invisible, the visible, and everything
else, as his own Self which is consciousness itself.
ne^Tf jftaT (wrarfar i
II ||
ffgj^The wise the visible ff (expletive) ere^Rlt to
invisibility «ft?s|T reducing HSiraftor as Brahman
should think of (?PT: then) ftgo<£raT full of consciousness
and bliss ftwT with the mind fsfiqgSr in eternal felicity
ffcl't should abide in.
142. Having reduced the visible 1 to the
invisible, the wise should think of the universe
as one with Brahman. Thus alone will he abide
in eternal felicity with mind full of conscious-
ness and bliss.
1 Having reduced the visible , etc.— A person may at first take some
external thing as an object of his meditation, but he should afterwards
think of it as existing only in the form of the mind ; and lastly the
mind also should be reduced to Brahman which is pure consciohsness.
Then alone one is said to have reached the highest goal.
78
APAROKSHANUBHUTI
rorata s^nsn l
55^1 ffga: II W\ II
^Prop With these steps 8H T g<K : fitted iragtm Raja-Yoga
BSPfff: has been described fe fa^giwmmi t for those whose
worldly desires are partially consumed gsq’Pta with Hatha-
Yoga (»pf this) gjas combined (*t3p( should be).
143. Thus has been described Raja-Yoga
consisting of these steps 1 (mentioned above).
With this is to be combined Hatha-Yoga 2 for
(the benefit of ) those whose worldly desires are
partially attenuated.
1 These steps— The fifteen steps mentioned in verses 100-134.
8 With this is to be combined Hatha - Yoga etc .— This Raja-Yoga,
which is purely psychological in its character, is extremely difficult to
be practised by those who have not yet overcome the physical dis-
abilities and banished the carnal appetites from the mind and thus
made it pure. To them, therefore, Hatha-Yoga, or the Yoga that
teaches physical control together with a little concentration, is at first
very helpful. For, they may thereby get control over their external and
internal nature and thus may in the course of time become fit for the
practice of this Raja-Yoga.
5^Tfl || ||
iftf Whose in: mind completely mature, i.e.
free from impurities (Nt for them) this alone
^ (expletive) fhftpp productive of the highest result (i.e,
perfection) is) gg§ga*r$Tat to those devoted to the
teacher and the Deity gifat of all (at^that) epna. speedily
fSW easy to achieve (*wfa becomes).
SELF-REALIZATION
77
144. For those whose mind is completely
purified this (Raja-Yoga) alone is productive of
perfection. Purity of the mind, again, is speedily
accessible to those who are devoted 1 to the
teacher and the Deity.
1 Those who are devoted , etc >~ Those who have implicit faith in
the words of the Guru and have unflinching devotion to their chosen
Deity* become free from all doubts and thus easily acquire concen-
tration which directly leads them to the realization of the highest
truth.
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